Could We Colonize Mercury Using Sunshades and Heat Shields?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the feasibility of colonizing Mercury using extremophile microbes, particularly focusing on the potential for life in the planet's polar regions where water ice exists. Participants reference the MESSENGER mission's findings, which suggest that certain anaerobic extremophiles, such as Bacillus subtilis 168 and Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032, could survive in Mercury's harsh conditions. Despite the potential for microbial life, significant skepticism remains regarding the viability of Earth-based organisms adapting to Mercury's extreme environment. The conversation also touches on planetary protection policies that currently apply to Mercury, indicating that it is not yet classified as a protected body.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of extremophile microorganisms, specifically Bacillus subtilis 168 and Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032.
  • Familiarity with planetary protection policies and the Outer Space Treaty.
  • Knowledge of the MESSENGER mission and its findings regarding Mercury's polar regions.
  • Basic concepts of astrobiology and the conditions required for life.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the findings of the MESSENGER mission regarding water ice on Mercury.
  • Explore the properties and survival mechanisms of extremophiles in extreme environments.
  • Study the implications of the Outer Space Treaty on planetary exploration and colonization.
  • Investigate current debates on planetary protection and its impact on future missions to Mercury.
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrobiologists, space policy analysts, and anyone interested in the potential for life beyond Earth and the ethical considerations of planetary colonization.

  • #31
Anaerobic bacteria don't require oxygen. They can obtain all their energy from the hydrogen in Mercury's atmosphere.
 
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  • #32
Alltimegreat1 said:
Anaerobic bacteria don't require oxygen.
Very very wrong. Anaerobic means it does not require free oxygen. All Earth life requires oxygen, it's one of the atoms that make up our DNA. Same as nitrogen. How can a create a creature made of nitrogen and oxygen atoms reproduce in an environment with only traces of one stored in rocks and none of the other?

Alltimegreat1 said:
They can obtain all their energy from the hydrogen in Mercury's atmosphere.
How? There are no extremophiles that do this. It doesn't even make any sense from a chemistry standpoint. Mercury's atmosphere is made of atomic hydrogen, not molecular hydrogen. Life metabolizes by breaking chemical bonds which releases energy into the life-form, which then gets used for something else. The hydrogen in the atmosphere of Mercury has literally zero chemical energy in it.
 
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  • #33
Molecular[/PLAIN] Hydrogen on Mercury

Have a look at the list on the right-hand side of the page.

"Mercury's exospheric hydrogen and helium are believed to come from the Solar wind, while the oxygen is likely to be of crustal origin."
 
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  • #34
Uh... how do we know for certain that there is no life on Mercury and we would be doing the solar system a favor by dropping in our own version(s) of life?
 
  • #35
Correct, we don't know if there is currently life on Mercury, but we will certainly never invest the vast resources necessary to scour every inch of the planet in search of endemic life. Yes, releasing terrestrial bacteria could indeed interfere with any life that may already be there. It's also possible that Mercury is a barren rock waiting to be seeded with life. Either way, we could ensure the existence of sustainable life on a planet other than Earth, which would mark an incredible achievement on the part of mankind. It is the ethically correct thing to do.
 
  • #36
Alltimegreat1 said:
Molecular[/PLAIN] Hydrogen on Mercury

Have a look at the list on the right-hand side of the page.

"Mercury's exospheric hydrogen and helium are believed to come from the Solar wind, while the oxygen is likely to be of crustal origin."
Read the actual wiki you posted. It stated very clearly that the hydrogen in the atmosphere came from the sun. That's atomic hydrogen, it even specifies that it's atomic later in the article. We know what kind of atoms come off of the sun, they are not molecules.

You also haven't responded to the following problems:
When will life get the nitrogen it requires?
How will life pull atoms into it with an atmosphere of 10^−14 bar of pressure?
Where would the oxygen come from (the amount in the air is not enough for a colony to exist)
How would it replace nutrients that it's already metabolized?
Where will it have liquid water to perform it's chemistry? Mercury has ice, not water, and at that pressure, it'll sublimate, not melt.
 
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  • #37
Thread locked for moderation.
 
  • #38
There have been too many personal assertions of fact without peer-reviewed journal articles offered as supporting references. The Mentor consensus is that this thread will remain closed.
 

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