Colonization of Planets

By Mehbooba Elahi

One of the most interesting and exciting

things in the astronomical world is the idea of
inhabiting other planets and leading a life
outside planet Earth. The potential permanent
settlement and resource extraction at objects
in space other than Earth is known as space
colonization. It is a type of human presence in
space that goes beyond human spaceflight and space outpost operations. As of now, it
is just a concept that is yet to be explored; however, there are anticipations that we are
not too far from making it a reality.

Before dreaming of a life in space, it is essential to note that it is not simple to just take
over any planet and start living there. There are plenty of calculations that must be
made to even consider entering the zone. Water, food, space, people, construction
materials, energy, transportation, communications, life support, replicated gravity,
radiation shielding, and capital investment would all be required to establish colonies in
space. If a planet is unable to cope up with all these aspects, then it will not be possible
to develop a livable environment for humans. Out of all 8 planets in our solar system
(other than earth), only 1 of them is considered for colonization in the future – as of the
present timing. It is the planet Mars. It has the most chances of being occupied by
humans. Discovery that liquid water previously flowed there, prior finding of a former
magnetic field that shielded the planet from cosmic / solar radiation and presence of
nutrients are all evidence that suggest Mars can possess elements to sustain life. If we
are ever able to move there, factors like substantially stronger radiation, lower gravity,
and a massive change in lifestyle could force significant evolutionary changes in human
bodies much faster than those that have occurred on our own planet. It also means that
we would have more space for people, which would be a solution for overcrowdedness
and overpopulation happening in the near future.

Though Mars is seen as the only candidate, scientists still

research the settling situations of other planets. Just because
they are not in the proper state for living at the time, does not
fully end its possibility forever since circumstances will gradually
change over the centuries. So, it is still fascinating to explore how
all planets differ from one another and their contrasting reasons
as to why they can not be inhabited. Starting off with Mercury – it
has a very weak atmosphere, lacks oxygen, air, water and is the
closest to the sun; meaning that the temperature is extremely hot. Venus is so dry and
thick that the atmospheric pressure on its surface is more than 90 times higher than on
Earth. It is also the hottest planet, so there is no chance with that. Climate of Jupiter is
too harsh, clouds are too dense, and its gravity is too strong; it also has no water but
only signs of carbon. Saturn is devoid of a real surface. Deeper down, the planet is
largely made up of spinning gasses and liquids. The atmosphere of Uranus is
hazardous, being the coldest planet. At those temperatures, the internal pressures are
immense, and life would be crushed. There is no process on Uranus that provides
energy either, it is far from the sun. Lastly there is Neptune. Neptune is a gaseous
planet with no solid surfaces. It's too cold to have liquid water, and there's no way it
could exist. Aside from that, the harsh planet is unsuitable for human life.

Overall, it is significant to learn about planetary habitability. The habitability of a planet,

or its ability to support life, is determined by a complex network of interactions between
the planet, its system, and the star it orbits. Without studying it, it will be hard for people
in future to find a new home if Earth is in danger. The study also allows people to go
further ahead and find causes behind planetary problems, in order to invent ways the
problem can be fixed for mankind to be more sustainable.

● Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, April 27). Space colonization. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 10, 2022,
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization
● Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, February 8). Colonization of the inner Solar System. Wikipedia.
Retrieved June 10, 2022, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_inner_Solar_System
● Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, June 9). Life on Mars. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_Mars
● Why can't Mercury be inhabited by man? give two reasons ... - brainly.in. (n.d.). Retrieved June
10, 2022, from https://brainly.in/question/12279434
● Could life exist on Venus? | cool cosmos. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2022, from
https://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/ask/39-Could-life-exist-on-Venus
● By. (n.d.). Can jupiter support life?(explained!). Scope The Galaxy. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from
https://scopethegalaxy.com/can-jupiter-support-life/
● Cain, F. (2015, December 25). Could there be life on uranus? Universe Today. Retrieved June 10,
2022, from https://www.universetoday.com/19285/could-there-be-life-on-uranus/
● Nature Noon. (2022, February 7). Living on neptune (what would life be on Neptune?). Nature
Noon. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from https://naturenoon.com/live-neptune/
● Cain, F. (2015, December 25). Life on neptune. Universe Today. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from
https://www.universetoday.com/21666/life-on-neptune/
● NASA. (n.d.). Sellers exoplanet environments collaboration (SEEC). NASA. Retrieved June 10,
2022, from https://seec.gsfc.nasa.gov/what_makes_a_planet_habitable.html
● Learn, J. R. (2021, October 8). Colonizing Mars could speed up human evolution.
Astronomy.com. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from
https://astronomy.com/news/2021/10/colonizing-mars-could-speed-up-human-evolution