Originally Posted by GOURDHEAD

We could probably solve the pressure difficulty if it were not for the temperature difficulty. Venus should be "explored" from the top down. The sulfuric acid clouds are believed to be a source of water and the bottom of clouds are at or near temperatures and pressures commensurate with the Earth's surface. Balloon suspended modules operating just below the clouds with microbes like methanopyrus kandleri and its thermophylic friends, genetically modified to the extent necessary, will begin the automatic terraformation of Venus. We'll work on the H2SO4 clouds with some acidophylic psychrophiles hoping that removing the clouds will help Venus cool off some. Depending on how watered down the H2SO4 is, we may have to import some water to be used as a catalyst in the balloon suspended modules.

Assume that we are being tested by the information managers of the universe to see whether we have noticed how convenient the design of the solar system is for us to learn to become space faring.

Originally Posted by Chip

If you were referring to my post (not sure) the last bit was a humorous touch.

Originally Posted by Chip

You can also enjoy the wild untamed Venus from your pressure dome window as such domes would exist for many years while hypothetical simultaneous processes effected changes.

Originally Posted by Occam's Shaving Cream

Thanks, I was wondering if it was too subtle.



Come on, even a communist* would prefer the luxury liner/casino/hotel/resort/restaurant/funland atmo-ship to a dome surrounded by bone-crushing pressures, toxic atmosphere, etc. You can't even see the sun untill you've thinned out the atmosphere significantly.

It's like prefering a location 1 kilometer underwater in a pitch-black ocean to a spot on ground level with sunlight when colonising a planet.

*don't get political now



EDIT: Ok, a lot of posts suddenly! Ok, so Venus is not as terrible as we think? Would someone in a space suit survive standing on the surface?

Originally Posted by Occam's Shaving Cream

Thanks, I was wondering if it was too subtle.



Come on, even a communist* would prefer the luxury liner/casino/hotel/resort/restaurant/funland atmo-ship to a dome surrounded by bone-crushing pressures, toxic atmosphere, etc. You can't even see the sun untill you've thinned out the atmosphere significantly.

It's like prefering a location 1 kilometer underwater in a pitch-black ocean to a spot on ground level with sunlight when colonising a planet.

*don't get political now



EDIT: Ok, a lot of posts suddenly! Ok, so Venus is not as terrible as we think? Would someone in a space suit survive standing on the surface?

Originally Posted by Occam's Shaving Cream

Did anyone see 'The Fifth Element'? I was thinking of Phloston Paradise with the flying luxury liner (which, of course eventually explodes). There is also the game Freelancer (with around 50 explorable solar systems) that also feature a company that offers 'paradise planets' and (orbiting) luxury liners.

But if it's mining you're after, you need a different approach. Who knows, these two factions might one day peacefully coexist on and above Venus

Originally Posted by Occam's Shaving Cream

Did anyone see 'The Fifth Element'? I was thinking of Phloston Paradise with the flying luxury liner (which, of course eventually explodes). There is also the game Freelancer (with around 50 explorable solar systems) that also feature a company that offers 'paradise planets' and (orbiting) luxury liners.

But if it's mining you're after, you need a different approach. Who knows, these two factions might one day peacefully coexist on and above Venus

Originally Posted by Noclevername

Getting the materials to build floating cities onto Venus would require mass transportation of materials through space; i.e., in a practical sense, asteroid mining on a large scale. If we can do that, which would require a signifigant longterm human presence in space (or self-replicating machines) then we'd already have plenty of habitats to choose from. Deciding to live on Venus would be a vanity project of sorts. (Not saying it would be bad, just no major motivation to do it. Although vanity can be a pretty major motivation )

Originally Posted by Occam's Shaving Cream

I know this thread is about terraforming, but would a sheltered dome be a better solution for colonisation? Lets say you bring all the materials from Earth, air-drop them on Venus and have robots (that can withstand the heat and pressure) assemble it on the surface. People can them come down in ships/special shuttles to dock with the base without exposing themselves to the atmosphere.

Would that be possible or am I underestimating the conditions?

Quick question here: I just read that Venus has a pressure of 90 Earth atmospheres. Will ships ever be able to take off after landing on Venus? Does a dense atmosphere means it behaves more like water (providing better lift when gaining altitude, like manouvering in water) or is it going to create so much downward force that your ship is stuck on that planet?

Originally Posted by Chip

Venus would likely not sustain a basic two layer zoned atmosphere wherein the upper altitude provided a blanket of breathable oxygen-nitrogen air. A floating city would have to have its own air supply. This would make a floating city (basically a far-flung variant of a gigantic dirigible, though not in the shape of a giant dirigible,) irrelevant. It would be more technologically feasible from an engineering standpoint to then build a gigantic orbiting spacecraft-town but then why have it orbit Venus? Developing technology for a floating city would also be highly problematic. Turbulence in the upper atmosphere of Venus would again make an orbiting spacecraft-community safer, but why bother?

The (strong) domed surface structure is a more interesting idea. But actually, I think a hypothetically transformed Venus might not be absolutely impossible if approached from the standpoint of many combined and simultaneously running technologies. As a simple sketch, just to illustrate:

1. Nanotech and bio-nano-altered CO2 transforming atmospheric implants. (This is not intended to transform Venus, but instead designed as an initial step toward altering the planet from a "Level 1" (present state) to a "Level 2" – still highly toxic but different from previous state.)

2. At the same time, ground implanted systems that receive organic carbon raining toward the hot surface preventing carbon dioxide from being liberated again. (This is the magic part because I have no idea how that could be done.)

3. Simultaneously build very strong domed outposts housing automated systems and later inhabited by people. The structures are designed for research, monitoring and control of the above systems. And simultaneously:

4. The planet is prepared by a very powerful cooling mechanism. This is necessary so that CO2 enters a liquid state. Liquid CO2 must be maintained or aided by some process to remain at a pressure and temperature that tolerates a liquid state all the way to the ground. The construction in solar orbit so that it