A2_3 Terraforming Mars: Creating a Magnetic Field

Abstract

This paper investigates the possibility of generating a magnetic field on Mars by using a single turn coil. It was found that the current needed to create a magnetic field of similar magnitude to that of the Earth’s is 9.47E8 A. In order for a cable of copper to be able to carry this current without melting it was found that it would need a radius of 70.4m. The power that is needed to run this coil was found to be 2.06E13 Js^-1 which is 121% of the power used on Earth every second.