Deep Space Thinking: What Elon Musk's Idea to Nuke Mars Teaches Us About Regulating the "Visionaries and Daredevils" of Outer Space release_jhor5bmxqnacpcn5xq2fexyqyy

by Thomas J. Herron

Published by Columbia Journal of Environmental Law.

2019   Vol 41 No 3 (2016): Volume 41.3

Abstract

Elon Musk, founder of California-based aerospace company SpaceX, was recently called a "supervillain" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after revealing his idea to detonate thermonuclear devices over the poles of Mars. Musk does not have sinister intentions; he wants to terraform the Martian atmosphere so that future generations of humans can live there.3 Musk has long been an advocate of colonizing Mars, arguing that a multi-planetary presence can safeguard the survival of humanity in the future, especially if a catastrophic event ever occurs on Earth. Musk believes that Mars has great potential to support human life in the future, and his plan to create a habitable Martian atmosphere is intriguing. Special nuclear devices would be detonated in space over the planet's polar ice caps, "creating two tiny pulsing '[S]uns' over the regions." In theory, generating large amounts of heat over the Martian poles could vaporize and release carbon dioxide contained in Mars' polar ice caps, thickening the atmosphere. A thicker atmosphere could trap heat from the Sun, which normally is absorbed by the planet and then released as infrared radiation. Retaining more heat from the Sun could trigger a cascading greenhouse effect by releasing more carbon dioxide and continuing to heat up Mars until the surface pressure increased enough for liquid water to exist.10 Formation of liquid water could be very favorable for oxygen-producing plants, and thus, human survival. Musk's proposal raises fascinating legal questions about non-government activity in outer space. This Note will explore the legal implications of his idea to terraform Mars using fusion nuclear technology. It is not an endorsement of using nuclear devices to alter the Martian atmosphere. Far too many ethical, environmental, technological, and political questions must be addressed before the issue can be decided. Rather, this Note is intended to show that international and national space laws dance around the questions surrounding Musk's proposal without providing [...]
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