TERRAFORMING OF MARS By Rah Rocky F. Irtiu Last edited about 2 by A!dreas Ste$$e!

o!ths a"o Edit #oc

For decades% the &ossibi'ity o$ 'a!di!" hu a!s o! Mars% a!d re!deri!" it habitab'e $or us has $asci!ated i!ds e(ery)here% $ro Sci*Fi )riters to NASA s&ecia'ists. Great scie!ti$ic atte!tio! has bee! &aid to this o&&ortu!ity% $or the "ai! )ou'd i!credib'e+ A )or'd )ith a si i'ar 'a!d ass as Earth% a(ai'ab'e $or e,&'oitatio! a!d co'o!i-atio!. I!deed a! e!tici!" &ros&ect% a!d o!e )hose !et (a'ue has bee! esti ated by so e at .2//%///%///%///%/// 0S% or 2// tri''io! do''ars 1Robi!so!+ Gree! Mars2. But the obstac'es are 3ust as $or idab'e as the "ai!s. This &a&er )i'' atte &t to detai' the obstac'es $aci!" the terra$or i!" o$ this !e) )or'd% irres&ecti(e o$ the &rob'e o$ i!ter&'a!etary tra!s&ort. 4hich is !ot to say that these are !ot e5ua''y ha &eri!".

60RRENT STAT0S OF MARS Fact is that !o hu a! has so $ar set $oot o! the sur$ace o$ the red &'a!et. 4hat i!$or atio! )e ha(e is $ro se(era' $'y*by &robes% as )e'' as obser(atio!s throu"h te'esco&es. Rece!t'y% ho)e(er% the re ote co!tro''ed 'a!der 7AT8FIN#ER touched do)! o! Mars9 re"o'ith a!d be"a! a!a'y-i!" rock sa &'es% etc. A'' these ethods o$ "atheri!" i!$or atio! ha(e re(ea'ed 5uite a bit about Mars. The &'a!et a&&ears to co!sist ost'y o$ dead rock% )ith tecto!ic acti(ity at a i!i u . A &re(a'e!ce o$ $erric o,ide akes $or the $a i'iar red co'or. The at os&here is e,tre e'y thi!% a!d 'acki!" i! both o,y"e! a!d !itro"e!% aki!" $or hi"h 'e(e's o$ cos ic radiatio! o! the sur$ace% as )e'' as a! e,tre e'y )eak "ree!house e$$ect. Most o$ the i!su'atio! is rebou!ded i!to s&ace% )hich co!tributes to the 'o) te &erature% about 22/:; o! a(era"e. This e!sures that there is !o acti(e hydros&here% si!ce a'' )ater is $ro-e! u& a!d there$ore !ot a(ai'ab'e $or che ica' i!teract io!. The &robes ha(e a'so $ai'ed to detect a!y ki!d o$ bios&here% a'thou"h it i"ht ha(e esca&ed their se!sors.

As a source o$ at os&heric ateria'% the t)o &o'ar ca&s are co!sidered a "ood reser(oir. Rece!t research% ho)e(er% has co!c'uded that they are !ot% as so $ar thou"ht% carbo! dio,ide% but rather )ater ice )ith a ou!ts o$ other ateria's bou!d i!to it. Me'ti!" the )i'' there$ore $ai' to i!crease the carbo!dio,ide co!te!t o$ the at os&here as uch as )as assu ed. <et the a ou!t &rese!t )i'' su$$ice $or a! at os&here o$ =// bar 1earth has >///? bar at sea'e(e'2 A'so% the re"o'ith see s to carry si"!i$ica!t a ou!t o$ this "as. 4hi'e 'iberati!" it $ro there )i'' be ore o$ a cha''e!"e tha! e'ti!" the &o'ar ca&s% this is a! e(e! bi""er su&&'y o$ it o! Mars.

T8E T4O 78ASE MO#EL 1herea$ter re$erred to as T7M2 The idea behi!d this is to di(ide the terra$or i!" &rocess i!to 2 sta"es+ I! the $irst% the at os&here is thicke!ed a!d )ar ed )ith assi(e 6O2 i!$'u,% i! the seco!d% the e,cess carbo! dio,ide is scrubbed usi!" &'a!ts. Re e ber Sa, Russe''9s e!cou!ter

)ith this ode' duri!" the Borou"hs scie!ti$ic co!$ere!ce 1Robi!so!+ Gree! Mars2. The chie$ &rob'e )ith this )ay o$ terra$or i!" is the di$$icu'ty i! c'eari!" the 6O2 $ro the at os&here duri!" the seco!d sta"e. Ti e 'i its here are i! the ode'+ i''e!!ia ra!"e. 8e re the detai'ed descri&tio! o$ the

>. Sta"e The 6O2 bo!ded i!to the ca&s a!d the soi' is a "ree!house "as% a!d re'eased by heat. I$ a su$$icie!t rise i! te &erature 1has bee! esti ated to @AF2 )ere to occur% the &ositi(e $eedback i!here!t i! this )ou'd start u& a cyc'e 'eadi!" to the re'ease o$ ost o$ the 6O2 i!to the at os&here% a!d the corres&o!di!" rise i! te &eratures. E.". a! i!crease i! te &erature o$ >/AF )ou'd $ree so e 6O2% )hich )ou'd raise the te &erature $arther% )hich i! tur! )ou'd re'ease ore 6O2% etc. Bust ho) $ar the te &erature )ou'd rise is de&e!de!t o! the 6O2 resources% a!d ho) uch o$ the is tra!s$erred i!to the air. It is i &orta!t to !ote that o!ce the cyc'e has "athered o e!tu % there is !othi!" )e cou'd do to sto& it. 4e )ou'd ha(e to 'et it "o o! u!ti' it dies out because ost o$ the 6O2 is !o) i! the air. Theoretica''y% the te &erature cou'd rise too uch% actua''y setti!" terra$or i!" back. The actua' ethods &ro&osed $or the i!itia' rise o$ @CF are setti!" o$$ !uc'ear e,&'osi(es i! the ca&s% a so'etta**a s&ace irror re$'ecti!" su!'i"ht o!to the &'a!et**% or bui'di!" ha'o carbo! $actories to &roduce hi"h'y e$$ecti(e "ree!house "ases. Nuc'ear deto!atio! is dis'iked by the &ub'ic% a!d )i'' &roduce da!"erous $a''out% yet it is the o!'y o$ these ethods &ossib'e )ith today9s tech!o'o"y. I$ the &o)er tru'y "oes o(er to tra!s!atio!a' cor&oratio!s% this i"ht be the ethod they )i'' choose% $or its e$$icie!cy a!d 'o) cost. So'ettas are rather e$$ecti(e% a!d a'thou"h it )ou'd be a $irst i! s&ace* e"aco!structio!% their ru!!i!" costs are $or idab'y 'o). The i!itia' i!(est e!t re5uired% ho)e(er% is e,tre e'y hi"h. 8a'ocarbo!s &ro ise to be hi"h'y e$$ecti(e% but a'so hard to a&&'y. Factories )ou'd ha(e to be bui't% &o)ered a!d sta$$ed o! Mars. Ma!y )ou'd be !eeded% as the 0D radiatio! i! the hi"her at os&here s&'its u& the ha'ocarbo!s. 4hat akes ha'ocarbo!s so attracti(e% a!d !eeded $or a "ree!house e$$ect% is that they b'ock e!er"y i! the so*ca''ed )i!do)+ the )a(e'e!"ths bet)ee! E a!d >2 icro!s )here !either 6O2 !or 82O (a&or ha(e uch absor&tio! ca&abi'ity. Shutti!" this )i!do) )ou'd be use$u' as &art o$ the "ree!house sche e% a!d (ita' i$ )e e(er )a!t to sto& the bo bard e!t by cos ic rays that is curre!t'y re!deri!" Mars a &'ace hosti'e to a' ost e(ery or"a!is thi!kab'e.

2.Sta"e The 6O2*rich at os&here a!d the hi"h te &eratures 1a!d the resu'ti!" hu idityF the ca&s e'ted a$ter a''2 )ou'd be a! E'dorado $or &'a!ts. These )ou'd !o) be i!troduced e! asse to e,cha!"e carbo! dio,ide $or o'ecu'ar o,y"e! a!d estab'ish a! acti(e bios&here. 8ere 'ies the &rob'e + E(e! i$ there is su$$icie!t !itro"e! $or the &'a!ts to 'i(e * )hich is $ar $ro certai! * they are s'o) 6O2 scrubs% 'ea(i!" the at os&here saturated )ith to,ic co!ce!tratio!s o$ 6O2 $or ce!turies to co e.

It ay !ot see 'ike'y to you that terra$or i!" )i'' be based o! the T7M. The &rob'e 'ies i! the seco!d sta"e% )here scrubbi!" the 6O2 see s a dau!ti!" cha''e!"e. <et the a'ter!ati(e has its o)! share o$ di$$icu'ties% a!d the T7M &ro ises $ast )ar i!" )ith co &arati(e'y s a'' e$$ort. 10!i(ersity o$ Te,as+ )ebsite2

T8E ONE STAGE MO#EL 1herea$ter re$erred to as OSM2 This &'a!s to a&&roach hu a!*(iab'e co!ditio!s o! a strai"ht &ath% i!stead o$ the o(ershootGbacktrack strate"y o$ the T7M.1Robi!so!+ Red Mars ? Gree! Mars2 4hi'e i!creasi!" te &eratures% it )i'' ake s&eci$ic e$$ort !ot to kick 'oose the 6O2 cyc'e% re5uiri!" it to ha(e co!ti!ui!" 6O2 absor&tio!% to kee& the co!te!t i! the at os&here be'o) the thresho'd o$ the ru!a)ay reactio!. #ue to the i!e$$icie!cy o$ 6O2 scrubbi!" ethods% this $orces the &ace to be rather s'o)% to a''o) $or su$$icie!t absor&tio! o$ the "ree!house "as des&ite co!ti!ui!" out "assi!" a!d $urther te &erature i!creases. The i!crease o$ te &erature% by )hate(er ea!s% ust be &ai!staki!"'y re"u'ated. As such% the OSM has a rather shaky ba'a!ce. O!ce so e o$ the 6O2 has bee! re'eased% re&eated reassess e!ts o$ de&osits as )e'' as tre e!dous athe atica' ca'cu'atio! ust be i!(ested to arri(e at the !e) te &erature thresho'd. A! error i! the sur(eyi!" or the ca'cu'atio! ode' i"ht 'ead to the i!itiatio! o$ the carbo! dio,ide cyc'e% es&ecia''y i$ a eteoro'o"ica' e(e!t )ou'd ha&&e! to i!$'ue!ce te &eratures.

A!other &rob'e that the OSM $aces% is that i! order to thicke! the at os&here )ithout a''o)i!" 6O2 to reach hi"h 'e(e's% other "ases are !eeded to su&&'y &ressure. A!d O2 is a'so out% because it is !ot i!ert. I$ the at os&here )ere to co!sist o$% say% E/H O2% a atch cou'd &robab'y cause the e!tire &'a!et to "o u& i! $'a es. O1ato ic o,y"e!2 is tota''y u!acce&tab'e% si!ce it is so acti(e that it )ou'd 3ust react )ith e(erythi!" *hu a! ski!% )a'ker $ibres% habitats% etc. It si &'y )ou'd!9t 'ast. I!ert "ases that i"ht be o! Mars i! su$$icie!t 5ua!tities are !itro"e! a!d ar"o!% yet )e ca!!ot be sure )ith either. 82O i"ht co e to co!stitute a certai! &erce!ta"e o$ the air% but it ca! o!'y re ai! airbor!e $or 'o!" i! hi"her te &erature a!d &ressure% i.e. )here a! at os&here a'ready e,ists. 4e )i'' ha(e to )ait $or $urther e,&'oratio! to c'ari$y )hether or !ot there is !itro"e! a!d ar"o ! is su$$icie!t 5ua!tities o! Mars. I$ !ot% certai! bacteria i"ht be ca&ab'e o$ $i,i!" either o$ these $ro e,isti!" ateria'. A (ery i!teresti!" idea has rece!t'y sur$aced% a!d it &ro ises c'ose to u!'i ited a ou!ts o$ iro! a!d o,y"e!. The idea is to s&'it the $erric o,ide% the iro! rust% that co(ers the e!tire &'a!et. This si &'y re5uires heat% but heat i! a ou!ts that are o!'y i!dustria''y a(ai'ab'e. This ea!s that )e )ou'd ha(e to estab'ish a $u!ctio!i!" &'a!t% )ith a &o)er source a!d &robab'y a co!structio!G ai!te!a!ce cre). A!d the !et o,y"e! out&ut o$ the &'a!t1s2 )ou'd ha(e to be 5uite hu o!"ous to ake a di$$ere!ce. It rea''y $aces the sa e di$$icu'ties as estab'ishi!" ha'o carbo! $actories o! Mars. 14or'dGI+ Terra$or i!" Mars2 As $or the !ecessary raise i! te &eratures% t)o o$ the so'utio!s used i! the T7M are a&&'icab'e+ The so'etta a!d ha'ocarbo!s. 8o)e(er% )ithout the dra atic he'& o$ 6O2% ore $uturistic ethods ha(e to be co!sidered i$ Mars is to be terra$or ed i! a!y reaso!ab'e a ou!t o$ Iti e. So*ca''ed oho'es** (ertica' ho'es o$ >/*>Jk de&th dri''ed throu"h the 'ithos&here** are &ro isi!"% "assi!" out heat $ro the 'o)er 'ithos&here o$ the &'a!et i!to the air. 8o)e(er% dri''i!" tech!o'o"y )ou'd ha(e to ad(a!ce a 'o!" )ay be$ore such e!dea(ors are $easib'e.

BIOS78ERE A$ter the $irst sta"e o$ the T7M% a!d duri!" the o!'y o!e o$ the OSM% or"a!is s )ou'd ha(e to be i!troduced to Mars. These )ou'd ha(e the &ur&ose o$ scrubbi!" 6O2 $ro the at os&here% as )e'' as &ro(idi!" so e rare ateria's% !oticeab'y o,y"e! a!d !itro"e!. There9s so ethi!" ore to those t)o tha! 3ust breathi!" a!d &ro(idi!" a!d i!ert "as $or at os&heric &ressure+ So e o$ the o,y"e! )i'' be trio,y"e!+ o-o!e. This )i'' he'& i! da i!" the $'o) o$ so'ar )i!d throu"h the Martia! air. 0!$ortu!ate'y% F'uorch'ori!ecarbo!hydrates 1dt.+ F6;4s2 are a'so o! the 'ist $or arti$icia' "ree!house "ases that i"ht be co!sidered% a!d as e(eryo!e k!o)s% they attack o-o!e. 4e )i'' ha(e to &ay atte!tio! that se(era' e$$orts do!9t ru! i!to each others )ays. 4ith !itro"e!% there is a! i &orta!t disti!ctio! bet)ee! t)o $or s o$ it+ N2 a!d N8=. N2 is at os&heric o,y"e!% a!d the tri&'e e'ectro! &air*bi!d e,&'ai!s )hy it is so i!ert. N8= is the (ersio! that ser(es as $erti'i-ers% a!d it sta!d to reaso! that it is o$ hi"h i!terest $or the estab'ish e!t o$ a bios&here. 8o)e(er% the $ir !ess o$ N29s bi!d akes it 5uite hard to tra!s$or N2 i!to N8=F o!'y certai! bacteria a!d i!dustria'*che ica' ethods ca! acco &'ish this. 4e do !ot ha(e a! i!dustry o! Mars% a!d so )e ha(e a!other ki!d o$ bacteria that i"ht )e'' be !eeded. 1SciA % Au" @@% 4o!ders+ #i!i!" o! a o!ia2. But there are a'so &ositi(e !e)s+ A bacteriu has bee! disco(ered )hich is ost 'ike'y ca&ab'e o$ sur(i(i!" o! Mars as it is. Metha!obacteriu )o'$ei is a etha!e*$i,i!" a!aerobic bacteria that is ca&ab'e o$ co&i!" )ith the 'ack o$ )ater a!d other harsh!esses e!cou!tered o! Mars. 1SciA % Au" @@% I! Brie$+Mars o! Earth2 Metha!e is 68K% )hich ea!s that it !eeds 6 $ro so e)here. I$ it cou'd so eho) be ade to take the 6 out o$ a 6O2 o'ecu'e% a!d re 'ease the O2% that )ou'd ea! a bi" ste& $or)ards. I! $act% you9d be sur&rised )hat bacteria o! earth ca! a'ready take. So e s&ecies )i'' 'au"h at *>//:6% a!d co!ti!ue to re&roduce. 6ross*breadi!" such hardshi&*bacteria $or the traits !eeded o! Mars is b'iss$u''y si &'e% the ore so as a!y o$ a bacteriu 9s traits are !ot e!coded i! the core "e!o e% but rather i! 'itt'e $ree*$'oati!" ri!"s o$ #NA ca''ed &'as ids. These are routi!e'y e,cha!"ed bet)ee! bacteria% a!d e(e! bet)ee! di$$ere!t s&ecies a &'as id tra!s$er is !o rare e(e!t.

MARS #IRE6T The re'ease o$ bio*or"a!is s o! Mars i"ht beco e a! o&tio! soo!er tha! the Mars tri'o"y i"ht su""est. NASA is curre!t'y &er&etrati!" a do)!*to*the*bo!es i!i a'ist 'a!di!" sche e ter ed Mars #irect. The idea is to e &'oy today9s u'tista"e booster rockets to de'i(er a retur! (ehic'e% )hose $ue' $or the tri& back )i'' be re$i!ed $ro the Martia! at os&here. 2 years 'ater% )he! Mars a!d L Earth are c'ose a"ai!% a a!!ed s&ace ca&su'e% co &risi!" a cre) o$ $our% )ou'd be se!t o! the 3our!ey% 'a!ded o! Mars a!d )ou'd stay there $or >E o!ths be$ore retur!i!". A seco!d retur! (ehic'e% de'i(ered short'y a$ter the a!!ed ca&su'e% )ou'd ser(e as a $ai'*sa$e a!d &re&are the !e,t issio!% )hich )ou'd a"ai! be acco &a!ied by a retur! (ehic'e $or the third issio!% etc. There is abso'ute'y !o as&ect o$ this &'a! that re5uires a!ythi!" beyo!d today9s tech!o'o"y or bud"et% a!d e(e! the (ery $irst retur! (ehic'e i"ht re'ease a se'ectio! o$ icrobes o! Mars. Bio*terra$or i!" i"ht e!ter the o&eratio! sta"e )ithi! the !e,t J years% a!d it is ti e to "et a "ri& o! it. 1#r R. Mubri!+ The 6ase $or Mars+ The &'a! to sett'e the red &'a!et a!d )hy )e ust2

S0MMAR< First o$$% )e ust discard the !otio! that )hat is do!e here is scie!ce*$ictio! or theoretica' )ork. Mars is co i!"% a!d it 'ooks 'ike it9s co i!" soo!. #i$$ere!t $ro Lu!a% Mars is a rea' &'a!et% )hich is i!habitab'e% a!d i"ht a'ready be i!habited * bacterio'o"ica' 'i$e is !ot at a'' out o$ the 5uestio!. 4hi'e it )i'' be a 'o!" ti e be$ore hu a!s i! serious !u bers )i'' arri(e there% a $e) se'ect o!es ay arri(e there &retty soo!% a!d so e o$ the i"ht e(e! stay. Because o$ the ti e sca'es co o!'y attached to terra$or i!"% )e shou'd take the (ery $irst o&&ortu!ity )e "et. O&tio!s are the re'ease o$ terra$or i!" icrobes o! the sur$ace% as )e'' as de&'oyi!" a so'etta% so ethi!" that is curre!t'y !ot i! our reach% but is !ot ore tha! about a decade o$$. Because o$ the ethods )e ha(e a(ai'ab'e% it see s 'ike'y that the T7M )i'' be i &'e e!ted% si &'y because )e ca!!ot su&&ort the ki!d o$ care$u' ba'a!ci!" that the OSM re5uires. 4e do !ot ha(e the assets o! the sur$ace. 0!ti' )e ca! 'a!d si"!i$ica!t !u bers a!d i!dustria' achi!es o! Mars% )e ha(e to re'y o! Mars to do the )ork $or us% so ethi!" )hich ca! be ost easi'y do!e by tri""eri!" the 6O2 cyc'e% a!d the! 'ea!i!" back% i!troduci!" so e bacteria a'o!" the )ay 1)hich ca! be do!e by a si!"'e u! a!!ed hea(y*'i$t rocket e5ui&&ed )ith a MIRD2. Because o$ the re&ercussio!s o$ the T7M% )e shou'd ake c'ear decisio! bet)ee! the t)o ode's be$ore )e i!itiate a!ythi!". For as soo! as the cyc'e "ets ro''i!"% $i(e )ords say it a''+ <ou ca! !e(er "o back.

A##EN#0M+ The Mi''e!!iu Fou!datio! S&earheaded by Marsha'' T. Sa(a"e% this is a &ri(ate or"a!i-atio! dedicated to 'eadi!" a!ki!d to )hat they &ercei(e as our desti!y * the co'o!i-atio! o$ the "a'a,y.

8ere a short o(er(ie)+ Sta"e >+ A5uarius 0si!" a seed shi& e5ui&&ed )ith a achi!e to "e!erate &o)er $ro the te &erature di$$ere!ce o$ sur$ace )ater to dee& )ater% as )e'' as (arious ethods to e,tract ra) ateria' direct'y $ro sea)ater% a $'oati!" city ca''ed A5uarius )i'' be estab'ished. It )i'' ser(e to test a'"ae*based $ood 1a $ou!datio! $or the e!tire e!dea(or2% "i(e the Fou!datio! the $i!a!cia' ea!s $or the !e,t sta"es% a!d e!ab'e the co!structio! o$ $urther seed shi&s% that )i'' bui'd a tota' o$ >%J// $'oati!" co'o!ies% )hich out&ut e!ou"h &o)er a!d &rotei! to eet the curre!t )or'd de a!d a' ost o! their o)!.

Sta"e 2+ Bi$rost 4ith the o!ey a!d &o)er $ro A5uarius% the Fou!datio! )i'' bui'd a subterra!ea! ass dri(er i! ;e!ya% )hose e!d is at the &eak o$ Mt.;i'i a!t3aro% a'ready abo(e ha'$ o$ the at os&here9s ass. Ma!!ed s&ace&'a!es 'au!ched $ro there )i'' be $urther &ro&re''ed by assi(e 'aser arrays (a&ori-i!" b'ocks o$ ice at the rear o$ the &'a!e. Assu i!" a! o&eratio! ti e o$ 2J years% the Fou!datio! cou'd char"e e(erybody ha'$ the !or a' 'au!ch cost% a!d sti'' "e!erate e!or ous &ro$it. A'so% it e!ab'es the bui'di!" o$ its s&acestatio!.

Sta"e =+ As"ard As"ard is a bi"% "o'd*coated bubb'e% &rotected $ro radiatio! by a surrou!di!" s&here o$ )ater J thick. I!side% it is &artitio!ed i!to >= s a''er bubb'es% )hich are i! tur! &artitio!ed. #es&ite ha(i!" a s a'' dia eter% As"ard )i'' o$$er tre e!dous s&ace. Its $ood su&&'y co!sists o$ sy!thesi-ed $ood% $'a(ored a!d co'ored% but based o! a'"ae "ro)! i! tubes i! the i!!er )ater shie'd. Its &o)er is deri(ed $ro $ree $'oati!" bubb'es $'oati!" arou!d it% that $ocuses su!bea s to heat )ater% a!d &roduce &o)er )ith stea turbi!es. The resu'ti!" e!er"y is the! tra!s$erred to As"ard (ia icro)a(e bea s. #ue to its &ositio! i! GEO orbit% a!d its &o)er out&ut% the Fou!datio! )i'' ost 'ike'y do i!ate the co u!icatio! i!dustry )ith As"ard% "i(i!" itse'$ e(e! ore resources. The ateria's $or As"ard )i'' co e $ro Lu!a or o!e o$ the earth*!ear asteroids. A ass dri(er% co &'ete )ith 'aser array 1)hich ca! be ade uch ore &o)er$u' )ithout the disturbi!" e$$ects o$ a! at os&here2% )i'' be estab'ished o! the oo!% to su&&ort the i!i!" sett'e e!t there% )hich &roduces o,y"e! a!d other ateria's. O$ the asteroids% o!'y o!e !eeds to be i!ed $or As"ard to be co!structed. The ost i &orta!t &roduct is the )ater $or the shie'd% )hich akes u& about @/H o$ As"ard9s ass. Because o$ the 'o) "ra(ity% !o ass dri(er )i'' be re5uired at $irst. #uri!" the 'ater sta"es% cou!t'ess As"ard*ty&e habitats )i'' be bui't% harbori!" a substa!tia' &ortio! o$ the hu a! &o&u'atio!.

Sta"e K+A(a''o! E,&a!di!" $ro the i!i!" sett'e e!t% se(era' 'u!ar craters )i'' be do ed o(er% bei!" bui't i! a $ashio! rese b'i!" both As"ard a!d A5uarius. #ue to the !o!e,iste!ce o$ a! at os&here% a"!eto*rai' tra!s&ort syste s )i'' be ab'e to o&erate a' ost >//H e$$icie!t'y.

Sta"e J+ E'ysiu 1Terra$or i!" Mars2 4ith the resources hu a!ki!d has by !o)% this is !ot "oi!" to be hard. I &acti!" a co et o! Mars )i'' &roduce the )ater (a&or to i!crease the "ree!house e$$ect% )hich )i'' start u& the 6O2*cyc'e. To co(er the ti e s&a! u!ti' Mars is e!tire'y hu a!*(iab'e% do es si i'ar to A(a''o!9s )i'' be bui't. 8ere is a &rob'e I see )ith the &'a!+ I$ the Fou!datio! does!9t hurry u&% Mars i"ht a'ready be $u''y c'ai ed * a!d !obody )ou'd 'ike the to i &act a co et o! their c'ai .

Sta"e N+ So'aria 0si!" As"ard*'ike tech!i5ues% the asteroid be't is sett'ed% a!d a i!d* bo""'i!" !u ber o$ bubb'e*habitats are de&'oyed i! the i!!er so'ar syste . At this sta"e% hu a!ity )i'' !u ber ti! the tri''io!s% a!d be c'ose to reachi!" ci(i'i-atio! 'e(e' 2+ Bei!" ab'e to har!ess a'' the e!er"y o$ a star. T)o he is&heres o$ so'ar co''ectors de&'oyed arou!d the su! 1but !ot b'ocki!" the ec'i&tic2 )i'' achie(e 3ust that.

Sta"e O+ Ga'actica 0si!" a! i!terste''ar (ersio! o$ Bi$rost Brid"e% a ass dri(er s&a!!i!" the )ho'e so'ar sayte $ro o!e e!d to the other )i'' be bui't 1this is about =J// A.#.2. It takes a ca&su'e a o!th to &ass throu"h% but the! the ca&su'e has reached a s&eed borderi!" o! that o$ 'i"ht+ Accordi!" to Ei!stei!% ti e )i'' &ass a 'ot

s'o)er $or the &asse!"ers% reduci!" the tri& ti e $or the by ore tha! a $actor o$ te!. Reachi!" A'&ha 6e!tauri% the !earest star syste % )ou'd beco e a serious &ossibi'ity. O!ce there% &eo&'e )i'' at $irst 'i(e i! asteroids or bubb'e habitats% but )i'' e(e!tua''y i!habit )hat &'a!ets there are.

6o e!t+ I$ the $ou!datio! e(er "ets A5uarius ru!!i!"% I )ou'd!9t see )hat i"ht sto& the . O$ course% a !atio! i"ht dec'are )ar o! the % but o!ce A(a''o! is co &'eted% that is !o 'o!"er a da!"er+ The 'u!ar 'aser arrays &ro(ide a &'e &o)er to destroy a!y i!bou!d attackers. 8o)e(er% A5uarius is a "ia!t i!(est e!t * it is doubt$u' )hether the Fou!datio! )i'' e(er be ab'e to $i!a!ce the $irst ari!e co'o!y.