There are several concepts that are believed to be able to make Mars become a planet that is worth inhabited, one of which is terraforming. This concept was also supported by former Head of NASA Scientist Jim Green.
Green just backed away from NASA after being part of the space agency for 40 years. Previously he had served as Director of the Planet NASA Science Division for 12 years, and in the last three years he held a position as head of scientist.
Towards his departure from NASA, Green revealed his plan to change Mars to a planet that could be inhabited by humans. Green's plan, which he published in November, focused on making the MARS atmosphere thicker using a giant magnetic shield between Mars and the Sun.
According to Green, this method can make the surface temperature of Mars warmer. In addition, the pressure on the surface can increase so that humans can walk on the surface of Mars without the need for the help of space clothing and no need to worry about blood will boil.
"Yes, it can be done. Stop peeling, and the pressure will increase. Mars will begin to be terraforming himself," Green told The New York Times, as quoted by Futurism on Wednesday (5/1/2022).
"That's what we want: so that the planet can participate in this way in any way. When pressure rises, the temperature will rise," he continued.
Green said this plan could support humans to start planting plants on Mars and opening the opportunity to start a long-term life outside the earth.
But Green is aware that this plan will get a lot of opposition from the astronomical community and the planet which he thinks will not accept the idea of changing the overall planet.
Criticism of the idea of other planet terraforming has long been echoed. In 2018, astronomers from the Adler Planetarium and the JustSpace Alliance Lucianne Walkowicz co-founder argued that humans would likely change the surface of Mars into an ecological disaster considering our footprint record in accelerating climate change.
Not only that, walkowicz is also not sure terraforming is something that can be done.
"Although terraforming continues to be trusted in popular imagination, it remains only in the realm of fiction. One thing, Mars seems to lack carbon dioxide reserves to pump the atmosphere and make it warmer," Walkowicz said.
