How to create an artificial magnetosphere for Mars

Bamford, R. A.; Kellett, B. J.; Green, J. L.; Dong, C.; Airapetian, V.; Bingham, R.

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.09.023

How to create an artificial magnetosphere for Mars

Journal Article · Tue Oct 12 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Acta Astronautica

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2021.09.023· OSTI ID:1880115

^[1]; Kellett, B. J. ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[3]; Airapetian, V. ^[4]; Bingham, R. ^[5]

Rutherford Appleton Lab., Oxfordshire (United Kingdom)
NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC (United States)
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States)
Rutherford Appleton Lab., Oxfordshire (United Kingdom); Univ. of Strathclyde, Scotland (United Kingdom)

If humanity is ever to consider substantial, long-term colonization of Mars, the resources needed are going to be extensive. For a long-term human presence on Mars to be established, serious thought would need to be given to terraforming the planet. One major requirement for such terraforming is having the protection of a planetary magnetic field - which Mars currently does not have. Here, the Earth's magnetosphere helps protect the planet from the potential sterilizing effects of cosmic rays and also helps retain the atmosphere, which would otherwise by stripped by large solar storms as they pass over the planet. Mars does have small patches of remnant surface magnetic field, but these are localized in the southern hemisphere and are not of sufficient size or magnitude to protect the planet or a colony.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466

OSTI ID:: 1880115

Journal Information:: Acta Astronautica, Journal Name: Acta Astronautica Vol. 190; ISSN 0094-5765

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (65)

Effects of crustal field rotation on the solar wind plasma interaction with Mars: EFFECTS OF MARS CRUSTAL FIELD ROTATION Ma, Yingjuan; Fang, Xiaohua; Russell, Christopher T. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 41, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GL060785	journal	October 2014
Multifluid MHD study of the solar wind interaction with Mars' upper atmosphere during the 2015 March 8th ICME event: DATA-MODEL COMPARISON OF ICME0308 Dong, Chuanfei; Ma, Yingjuan; Bougher, Stephen W. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 42, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065944	journal	November 2015
Solar wind interaction with the Martian upper atmosphere: Crustal field orientation, solar cycle, and seasonal variations Dong, Chuanfei; Bougher, Stephen W.; Ma, Yingjuan Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA020990	journal	September 2015
Control of Mars global atmospheric loss by the continuous rotation of the crustal magnetic field: A time-dependent MHD study: MARS CRUSTAL FIELD AND ATMOSPHERIC LOSS Fang, Xiaohua; Ma, Yingjuan; Brain, David Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021605	journal	December 2015
Martian magnetic storms: Martian Magnetic Storms Luhmann, J. G.; Dong, C. F.; Ma, Y. J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023513	journal	June 2017
Atmospheric escape from unmagnetized bodies: Atmospheric Escape: Unmagnetized Bodies Brain, D. A.; Bagenal, F.; Ma, Y. -J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol. 121, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JE005162	journal	December 2016
The importance of pickup oxygen ion precipitation to the Mars upper atmosphere under extreme solar wind conditions: MARS THERMOSPHERIC IMPACT BY PICKUP IONS Fang, Xiaohua; Bougher, Stephen W.; Johnson, Robert E. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 40, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50415	journal	May 2013
Technical Note: Perturbations on a Stationary Satellite by the Longitude-Dependent Terms in Mars’ Gravitational Field Alvarellos, José Luis The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 57, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321524	journal	October 2009
Magnetopause stand-off distance in dependence on the magnetosheath and solar wind parameters Pudovkin, M. I.; Besser, B. P.; Zaitseva, S. A. Annales Geophysicae, Vol. 16, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-998-0388-z	journal	January 1998
Planetary Magnetic Fields: Achievements and Prospects Stevenson, David J. Space Science Reviews, Vol. 152, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-009-9572-z	journal	October 2009
What Are Special About Ground-Level Events?: Flares, CMEs, Active Regions and Magnetic Field Connection Nitta, N. V.; Liu, Y.; DeRosa, M. L. Space Science Reviews, Vol. 171, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-012-9877-1	journal	April 2012
Planetary engineering on Mars Sagan, Carl Icarus, Vol. 20, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(73)90026-2	journal	December 1973
The implantation of life on Mars: Feasibility and motivation Haynes, Robert H.; McKay, Christopher P. Advances in Space Research, Vol. 12, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(92)90167-V	journal	January 1992
The Martian and Extraterrestrial uv Radiation Environment part ii: Further Considerations on Materials and Design Criteria for Artificial Ecosystems A. Cockell, Charles Acta Astronautica, Vol. 49, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-5765(01)00085-6	journal	December 2001
Terraforming Mars: A review of current research Fogg, M. J. Advances in Space Research, Vol. 22, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(98)00166-5	journal	January 1998
Regional and seasonal limitations for Mars intrinsic ecopoiesis Badescu, Viorel Acta Astronautica, Vol. 56, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2004.11.004	journal	April 2005
Mars transportation vehicle concept Smirnova, Maria Acta Astronautica, Vol. 103 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2014.06.015	journal	October 2014
An exploration of the effectiveness of artificial mini-magnetospheres as a potential solar storm shelter for long term human space missions Bamford, R. A.; Kellett, B.; Bradford, J. Acta Astronautica, Vol. 105, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2014.10.012	journal	December 2014
Mars Colony in situ resource utilization: An integrated architecture and economics model Shishko, Robert; Fradet, René; Do, Sydney Acta Astronautica, Vol. 138 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.05.024	journal	September 2017
Statistically architected human spaceflight missions to Mars Watson, Ja’Mar A. Acta Astronautica, Vol. 160 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.04.024	journal	July 2019
Sustainable space exploration and its relevance to the privatization of space ventures Iliopoulos, Nikolaos; Esteban, Miguel Acta Astronautica, Vol. 167 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.09.037	journal	February 2020
ORACLE: A mission concept to study Mars’ climate, surface and interior Genova, Antonio Acta Astronautica, Vol. 166 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.10.006	journal	January 2020
Dust Storm: The cost-saving benefits of a compute cloud on Mars March, Benjamin H.; Casler, James G. Acta Astronautica, Vol. 168 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.11.029	journal	March 2020
Achieving the required mobility in the solar system through direct fusion drive Genta, Giancarlo; Kezerashvili, Roman Ya. Acta Astronautica, Vol. 173 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.04.047	journal	August 2020
Loss of the Martian atmosphere to space: Present-day loss rates determined from MAVEN observations and integrated loss through time Jakosky, B. M.; Brain, D.; Chaffin, M. Icarus, Vol. 315 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.05.030	journal	November 2018
Thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes and their polymer nanocomposites: A review Han, Zhidong; Fina, Alberto Progress in Polymer Science, Vol. 36, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2010.11.004	journal	July 2011
Compositional interpretation of PFS/MEx and TES/MGS thermal infrared spectra of Phobos Giuranna, M.; Roush, T. L.; Duxbury, T. Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 59, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2011.01.019	journal	October 2011
Optimal longitudes determination for the station keeping of areostationary satellites Silva, Juan J.; Romero, Pilar Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 87 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2012.11.013	journal	October 2013
The stability of a homopolar dynamo Bullard, Edward Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Vol. 51, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305004100030814	journal	October 1955
Oscillations of a system of disk dynamos Rikitake, Tsuneji Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Vol. 54, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305004100033223	journal	January 1958
Type-II Ising Superconductivity and Anomalous Metallic State in Macro-Size Ambient-Stable Ultrathin Crystalline Films Liu, Yi; Xu, Yong; Sun, Jian Nano Letters, Vol. 20, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01356	journal	June 2020
Solar forcing and planetary ion escape from Mars Lundin, R.; Barabash, S.; Fedorov, A. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 35, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GL032884	journal	January 2008
Effects of an Intrinsic Magnetic Field on Ion Loss From Ancient Mars Based on Multispecies MHD Simulations Sakata, R.; Seki, K.; Sakai, S. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 125, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JA026945	journal	February 2020
Effects of the IMF Direction on Atmospheric Escape From a Mars‐like Planet Under Weak Intrinsic Magnetic Field Conditions Sakai, Shotaro; Seki, Kanako; Terada, Naoki Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 126, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028485	journal	March 2021
Evolutionary impact of sputtering of the Martian atmosphere by O ⁺ pickup ions Luhmann, J. G.; Johnson, R. E.; Zhang, M. H. G. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 19, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1029/92GL02485	journal	November 1992
A new theory of magnetic storms Chapman, S.; Ferraro, V. C. A. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 36, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1029/TE036i002p00077	journal	January 1931
Making Mars habitable McKay, Christopher P.; Toon, Owen B.; Kasting, James F. Nature, Vol. 352, Issue 6335 https://doi.org/10.1038/352489a0	journal	August 1991
Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon Iijima, Sumio Nature, Vol. 354, Issue 6348 https://doi.org/10.1038/354056a0	journal	November 1991
Volcanically emitted sodium chloride as a source for Io's neutral clouds and plasma torus Lellouch, E.; Paubert, G.; Moses, J. I. Nature, Vol. 421, Issue 6918 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01292	journal	January 2003
Inventory of CO2 available for terraforming Mars Jakosky, Bruce M.; Edwards, Christopher S. Nature Astronomy, Vol. 2, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0529-6	journal	July 2018
Enabling Martian habitability with silica aerogel via the solid-state greenhouse effect Wordsworth, R.; Kerber, L.; Cockell, C. Nature Astronomy, Vol. 3, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-019-0813-0	journal	July 2019
Theory of tokamak disruptions Boozer, Allen H. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 19, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3703327	journal	May 2012
Progress in superconductivity Hebard, Arthur; Stewart, Gregory Physics Today, Vol. 72, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.4138	journal	February 2019
Dynamics of the Interplanetary Gas and Magnetic Fields. Parker, E. N. The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 128 https://doi.org/10.1086/146579	journal	September 1958
Runaway electron beam generation and mitigation during disruptions at JET-ILW Reux, C.; Plyusnin, V.; Alper, B. Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 55, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/55/9/093013	journal	August 2015
Characteristics of the NASA Lewis Bumpy Torus plasma generated with high positive or negative applied potentials Roth, J. Reece; Gerdin, Glenn A. Plasma Physics, Vol. 19, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1088/0032-1028/19/5/004	journal	May 1977
Planetary magnetospheres Russell, C. T. Reports on Progress in Physics, Vol. 56, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1088/0034-4885/56/6/001	journal	June 1993
Progress in superconducting metamaterials Jung, Philipp; Ustinov, Alexey V.; Anlage, Steven M. Superconductor Science and Technology, Vol. 27, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/27/7/073001	journal	May 2014
Melting and premelting of carbon nanotubes Zhang, Kaiwang; Stocks, G. Malcolm; Zhong, Jianxin Nanotechnology, Vol. 18, Issue 28 https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/18/28/285703	journal	June 2007
The Physics, Biology, and Environmental Ethics of Making Mars Habitable McKay, Christopher P.; Marinova, Margarita M. Astrobiology, Vol. 1, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1089/153110701750137477	journal	March 2001
Alternative approaches: concept improvements in magnetic fusion research Robinson, D. C. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 357, Issue 1752 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1999.0339	journal	March 1999
Electron and Ion Runaway in a Fully Ionized Gas. I Dreicer, H. Physical Review, Vol. 115, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.115.238	journal	July 1959
Laser Electron Accelerator Tajima, T.; Dawson, J. M. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 43, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.43.267	journal	July 1979
Theory of current drive in plasmas Fisch, Nathaniel J. Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 59, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.59.175	journal	January 1987
The occurrence of operational anomalies in spacecraft and their relationship to space weather Baker, D. N. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 28, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1109/27.902228	journal	January 2000
Superconducting materials for large scale applications Scanlan, R. M.; Malozemoff, A. P.; Larbalestier, D. C. Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 92, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2004.833673	journal	October 2004
Basalt-trachybasalt samples in Gale Crater, Mars Edwards, Peter H.; Bridges, John C.; Wiens, Roger Meteoritics & Planetary Science https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12953	journal	September 2017
Mars: A New Core-Crystallization Regime Stewart, A. J.; Schmidt, M. W.; van Westrenen, W. Science, Vol. 316, Issue 5829 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1140549	journal	June 2007
Itinerant Ferromagnetism in a Fermi Gas of Ultracold Atoms Jo, G. -B.; Lee, Y. -R.; Choi, J. -H. Science, Vol. 325, Issue 5947 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1177112	journal	September 2009
Magnetic Field and Plasma Observations at Mars: Initial Results of the Mars Global Surveyor Mission Acuña, M. H. Science, Vol. 279, Issue 5357 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.279.5357.1676	journal	March 1998
Global Distribution of Crustal Magnetization Discovered by the Mars Global Surveyor MAG/ER Experiment Acuña, M. H. Science, Vol. 284, Issue 5415 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.284.5415.790	journal	April 1999
MAVEN observations of the response of Mars to an interplanetary coronal mass ejection Jakosky, B. M.; Grebowsky, J. M.; Luhmann, J. G. Science, Vol. 350, Issue 6261 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad0210	journal	November 2015
Lunar resources: A review Crawford, Ian A. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Vol. 39, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133314567585	journal	February 2015
Mars core structure—concise review and anticipated insights from InSight Helffrich, George Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, Vol. 4, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-017-0139-4	journal	September 2017
Atmospheric Escape From TOI-700 d: Venus versus Earth Analogs Dong, Chuanfei; Jin, Meng; Lingam, Manasvi The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 896, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ab982f	journal	June 2020

Similar Records

Surplus weapons-grade plutonium: a resource for exploring and terraforming Mars

Conference · Mon Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1996 · OSTI ID:459781

Space weather observations, modeling, and alerts in support of human exploration of Mars

Journal Article · Tue Nov 22 19:00:00 EST 2022 · Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences · OSTI ID:1899643

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
Artificial
Exploration
Magnetic field
Magnetosphere
Mars
Plasma
Terraforming

How to create an artificial magnetosphere for Mars

Citation Formats

References (65)

Similar Records

Related Subjects