A1_9 Terraforming Mars: CO2 Combustion

Abstract

This report examines the feasibility of transporting coal from the Earth to Mars to increase the Martian atmospheric density. This is done by releasing CO₂ through combustion, which would terraform the planet. It was found that this was unfeasible due to the large values required: 3.15 x 10¹⁹ Kg of coal and 1.97x10²⁷ J of energy to transport it outside of the Earth’s gravitational potential.