Terraforming, especially of Mars, has been a familiar subject in science
fiction. One of the first instances was in the novel, The Sands of Mars,
by Arthur C. Clarke, published over fifty years ago, More recently, Kim Stanley
Robinson explored the technological feasibility and the sociological
implications of terraforming Mars in his Mars trilogy, which includes Red
Mars, Blue Mars, and Green Mars.
A New World for Humanity
If one accepts the most optimistic schedule for terraforming Mars, then it
could be that by the end of this century, a “blue Mars”, teeming with life,
with breathable air, and free flowing water will be a reality. Such a world
could be, for our grandchildren and great grandchildren, a new frontier, much
as America was
for our ancestors. It could be a place for people to build new lives and
experiment with new ways of ordering society. Frontiers test and strengthen the
people willing to go to them and make them their home. Finally, building a new
world on Mars, and making it a new home for restless people, would help ensure
the long time survival of the human species. A multiplanet civilization cannot
be destroyed by some cataclysm, either natural or manmade. In an era of great
anxiety about the long term prospects of the human race, that is a promise that
would be worth a lot to fulfill.