Mars in Future: What's Ahead 1-3 Billion Years?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the potential changes and challenges for Mars in the next 1-3 billion years. These changes include the release of gases from the polar ice caps and Martian soil due to increased heat from the sun, with the possibility of temporarily thickening the atmosphere and allowing liquid water to flow on the surface. However, it is uncertain if this process would be fast enough and if the atmosphere could sustain itself. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission is planned to study the Martian atmosphere, and there have been ideas for terraforming Mars through converting CO2 in the soil into a gas.
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willstaruss22
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I been wondering something. What would Mars be like in the next 1-3 billion years. As I understand Mars has CO2 and other gases in the polar ice caps and in the Martian soil. So would the increase of the suns heat sublime the polar caps and release gases buried in the Martian soil to temporarily thicken the Martian atmosphere? Maybe so liquid water could flow on the surface again, temporarily of course?
 
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Mars does not currently have a thick enough atmosphere to allow water to flow and also due to extreme temperature variations. If if more CO2 was released from the ice caps I doubt in would be fast enough to help build up the atmosphere and would get stripped away possibly from the solar wind. Here is an the more info on the Atmosphere of Mars:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars

One possible idea to terraform Mars was to send machines to convert the CO2 in the soil to a gas and release it in large amounts into the atmosphere but we would need to generate huge amounts of CO2.
 

1. What is the current state of Mars and how will it change in the next 1-3 billion years?

Mars is currently a cold, dry, and barren planet with a thin atmosphere. However, in the next 1-3 billion years, it is expected to continue to lose its atmosphere due to solar wind erosion. This will result in further cooling and drying of the planet, making it even more inhospitable to life as we know it.

2. Will Mars ever become habitable for humans in the future?

It is highly unlikely that Mars will ever become fully habitable for humans in the next 1-3 billion years. While there have been proposals to terraform the planet by introducing greenhouse gases to thicken the atmosphere and create a warmer climate, the process would take centuries and would require a massive amount of resources and technology that we currently do not possess.

3. What are the potential future missions to Mars in the next 1-3 billion years?

There are several potential future missions to Mars that have been proposed, including manned missions to study the planet's geology and potential for life, as well as robotic missions to gather more data and samples. These missions could provide valuable insights into the history and evolution of Mars and help us better understand its potential for future exploration.

4. Is there any chance that Mars could collide with Earth in the next 1-3 billion years?

While it is possible for two planets to collide in the vastness of space, the chances of Mars and Earth colliding in the next 1-3 billion years are extremely slim. The orbits of the two planets are stable and do not intersect, and any potential collisions would likely be a result of external factors, such as gravitational disturbances from other celestial bodies.

5. How will the potential colonization of Mars affect its future in the next 1-3 billion years?

If humans do eventually colonize Mars in the next 1-3 billion years, it could have a significant impact on the planet's future. Depending on the extent of human activity and development, it could potentially alter the planet's surface, atmosphere, and overall environment. However, the long-term effects of human colonization on Mars are still largely unknown and would depend on the responsible and sustainable practices of any future inhabitants.

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