Korimyr the Rat

The magnetic field problem is a major concern. But the greenhouse gasses... it would take some time, but the idea is to build atmospheric habitats for the colonists, and use their own agricultural and oxygen needs to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. You could fairly easily create a system which produces far more oxygen than the colonists need, which you could then release back into the atmosphere.

You could even use the agriculture to trap the carbon and then use it for manufacturing purposes.

My understanding is, if you got the temperature and magnetic field issues resolved, the atmospheric pressure would decline. I could be wrong, though.

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Tashah

Venus is woefully inhospitable. Average surface temperature is around 460°C which is hotter than Mercury. It has no oceans and is surrounded by a heavy atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide with virtually no water vapor. Its clouds are composed of sulfuric acid droplets (acid rain). At the surface, the atmospheric pressure is 92 times (92 bars) that of the Earth's at sea-level. No small impact craters even exist on Venus due to this crushing atmospheric pressure. Agriculture would be virtually impossible, as nothing softer than compacted rock can extend upward from the planet's surface.

The Soviet Venera 9 lander lasted only 53 minutes on the Venusian surface, the Venera 10 lander survived for 65 minutes. Viewed in the ultraviolet, the cloud tops of Venus display light and dark bands. The dark bands remain one of the biggest mysteries of Venus' atmosphere. They are caused by some chemical species absorbing solar ultraviolet radiation. Cosmologists have so far been unable to identify this exotic substance.

In summation...planetary temperature, pressure, and environment are individually and collectively forbidding obstacles to a human colonization of Venus. Unanimated mechanical devices would fare no better with our current material-alloys and technology.

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WI Crippler

So do you feel Mars is the first logical step in space colonization? I really think its going to have to be the moon. I think, until we discover another Earth-like planet, we are going to have to resign ourselves to living inside structured colonies elsewhere in our solar system. I think we are best served in trying to find ways to create energy and fuels from the resources we find on the planet or moon. Its simply too prohibitive to create supply chains that extend from the earth, to sustain those colonies. If we could find a way to restructure atoms and molecules to our liking, we should in theory be able to create anything we need, right?

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"What Jesus fails to appreciate is that it's the meek who are the problem."- Reg

Tashah

Space colonization is alien to mankind and will have to be accomplished incrementally. Logistically speaking, it would be beneficial to utilize the moon as the point of embarkation. Mars would be the next logical destination, and perhaps one or two of the Jovian moons are also suitable for colonization. Extra-solar destinations would require a different mode of galactic travel.

WI Crippler

I understand that. What I am trying to get at, is that I think we need to develop a flexible, adaptable kind of technology that allows us to use whatever materials and resources that are available at that planet. Its just not feasible to send mass amounts of material hurtling across space. Its too vast, and the times involved are too great. We need to find ways to use the resources there, to our advantage so as to minimize the supplies that we need to take, and need to send in the future.

I say we create a large circular planetary mass halfway between the Earth and Mars. Let it generate its own gravity, and develop systems that allow us to live on the inside. And also arm it with a huge super powerful laser that can destroy plaents.

Tashah

George Lucas had almost the same idea...the Death Star

WI Crippler

Yeah, but his was only the size of a small moon.

John1234

I know it was a fade for a bit. But do people actually still believe the moon was a hoax?

I agree with your general assessment of the toll of space travel on the human body. I just don't agree it is quite as rapid.
Artificial gravity will be developed at some point. There are already several theories and designs that are not fully tested.
I also hope that the upcoming global oil crisis that we will see within a decade or 2 will help to spur mankind into inventing a superior energy source.
And that would also help to propel our space program.
Doubtful to be by the year 2014 though. Very doubtful.

Tashah

Firstly, do you have any idea of the time requirements necessary for gravity accretion? Secondly, how would one immunize accretion from outside influences?

WI Crippler

You science people always have to put a damper on the fun with your "facts".