Venus to be humanity's next destination?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the feasibility of Venus as a potential destination for human colonization, particularly focusing on the possibility of establishing floating cities in its upper atmosphere. Participants explore various aspects of this idea, including environmental conditions, energy resources, and comparisons with other celestial bodies like Mars.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the upper atmosphere of Venus has conditions that could be considered "earth-like," with a relatively low pH, suitable temperatures, and potential for energy generation.
  • Others reference a proposal for human exploration and settlement in the atmosphere of Venus using aerostat vehicles, highlighting the possibility of floating cities at around 50 kilometers altitude.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the extreme conditions on the surface of Venus, including high temperatures and atmospheric pressure, which could pose significant challenges for colonization.
  • Some participants argue that the practical difficulties of constructing and maintaining cities in Venus's atmosphere may outweigh the benefits, suggesting that it might be more feasible to develop floating cities on Earth instead.
  • A few participants express skepticism about the viability of living in Venus's atmosphere, citing the harsh chemical composition and environmental challenges.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion reveals multiple competing views regarding the feasibility of colonizing Venus. While some participants are optimistic about the potential for human habitation in the upper atmosphere, others strongly contest this idea, emphasizing the significant challenges and risks involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note various limitations, such as the dependence on specific atmospheric conditions and the unresolved practicalities of resource acquisition and city maintenance in Venus's environment.

twiz_
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I once read a year or so ago that Venus, despite its harsh lower atmospheric conditions, is actually very "earth-like" at a certain level near the upper part of the atmosphere, including an relatively low pH, rain, and a suitable temperature. Not only that, but directly below the earth-like sweet spot, it is so dense that perhaps a hovering establishment may be supported with the help of thrusters. I don't know if this is just speculation and baloney observations, but if it were true, it could be humanity's next destination. There would be a virtually endless amount of "free" energy, whether it be solar or from the heat in the lower atmosphere, that could supply the thrusters with energy, and even keep the lights turned on for the inhabitants.

Link provided by Drakkith:
https://api.viglink.com/api/click?f...ontent/aip/proceeding/aipcp/10.1063/1.1541418

Have any of you heard about this? If so, would you consider it a practical solution for overpopulation? Is it a better option than Mars or other supposedly suitable bodies?

What are the problems we could face, and what are the errors in the original proposal (any atmospheric conditions, energy use, transportation, cost, etc.)?
 
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twiz_ said:
Have any of you heard about this? If so, would you consider it a practical solution for overpopulation? Is it a better option than Mars or other supposedly suitable bodies?

I found a reference from wikipedia for this idea: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/proceeding/aipcp/10.1063/1.1541418

Abstract:

Although the surface of Venus is an extremely hostile environment, at about 50 kilometers above the surface the atmosphere of Venus is the most earthlike environment (other than Earth itself) in the solar system. It is proposed here that in the near term, human exploration of Venus could take place from aerostat vehicles in the atmosphere, and that in the long term, permanent settlements could be made in the form of cities designed to float at about fifty kilometer altitude in the atmosphere of Venus.

No time to comment more on this at the moment.
 
Drakkith said:
I found a reference from wikipedia for this idea: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/proceeding/aipcp/10.1063/1.1541418

Abstract:

Although the surface of Venus is an extremely hostile environment, at about 50 kilometers above the surface the atmosphere of Venus is the most earthlike environment (other than Earth itself) in the solar system. It is proposed here that in the near term, human exploration of Venus could take place from aerostat vehicles in the atmosphere, and that in the long term, permanent settlements could be made in the form of cities designed to float at about fifty kilometer altitude in the atmosphere of Venus.

No time to comment more on this at the moment.

Thanks for the reply, I will include the link in the original post.
 
That would be impossible, I guess. The atmosphere of Venus is composed mainly of carbon dioxide. On the surface, the atmospheric pressure is 100 times higher on Earth and the temperature exceeds 480 degrees in celsius.
 
That would be impossible because probes or artificial satellites that would arrived undamaged there will be unable to operate for long, I guess. The atmosphere of Venus is composed mainly of carbon dioxide. On the surface, the atmospheric pressure is 100 times higher on Earth and the temperature exceeds 480 degrees in celsius.
 
Jean Atienza said:
That would be impossible, I guess. The atmosphere of Venus is composed mainly of carbon dioxide. On the surface, the atmospheric pressure is 100 times higher on Earth and the temperature exceeds 480 degrees in celsius.

True, but this thread isn't about living on the surface. It's about living above the surface where the pressure and temperature are much lower.
 
Whilst that cloud layer might have tolerable atmospheric conditions its benefit pales in comparison to the practical issues of colonising it. The construction, deployment and maintenance of "dirigible cities" in an environment where acquiring new physical resources is hellishly difficult (at best) is a gargantuan task. It would undoubtedly be cheaper to build floating cities on the Earth's oceans, or anywhere currently empty on land.
 
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