KAH Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Apologies if this has made its rounds on the board already, I've been here very infrequently the latest months...but thought this was kinda cool. Screw Mars, let's go ballooning on Venus! This idea dates back to the Russians in the 1970s. The surface of Venus is far too hot, and the atmosphere too dense, for Earth life. However, our air is a lifting gas on Venus with about half the lifting power of helium on Eath. A habitat filled with normal air will float high in the dense Venus atmosphere, The atmospheric pressure there is the same as Earth sea level (1 bar). Temperatures are perfect for Earth life too, just over 0°C.Also, just as weather balloons naturally rise to their operating level high in our atmosphere - and don't need to be engineered to hold in high pressures, so it works in the same way for our habitats on Venus. They float at a level where the pressure is equal inside and out, and can be of light construction. It is arguably the most hospitable region for humanity in our solar system, outside of Earth itself. I have it on good authority that the Venusians (Venians?) are not so picky as the Martians, and will, in fact, welcome their new OVERlords...aah ha ha ...ha. OK, that was probably a new low for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeping Sore Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Wouldn't wind speeds of up to 700 km/hr in the middle atmosphere pose a problem? Without a hard line of density change (like the difference between ocean water and atmosphere on Earth) wouldn't these floating habitats flip over constantly, too? And then there's the sulphuric acid rain... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Scot A Ellison Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Adventure trips to Venus. Who wants to partner for a start up?;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xray the Enforcer Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Wouldn't wind speeds of up to 700 km/hr in the middle atmosphere pose a problem? Without a hard line of density change (like the difference between ocean water and atmosphere on Earth) wouldn't these floating habitats flip over constantly, too? And then there's the sulphuric acid rain... Pfft! Killjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuellar Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I actually read that LONG article. It's an interesting idea, but it points out that in the end virtually anywhere on earth is more preferable to anywhere outside (including arctic, under ocean, death valley, Everest, etc). Pretty much the main 2 benefits of Venus is pressurization in the upper atmosphere, and availability of gas/minerals. Mining specific astroids probably are significantly better for the latter, and for the first, it does not seem to be a HUGE issue considering you don't want to mix the atmospheres anyway. I sure as shit would not want sulfuric acid leaks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry of the Lawn Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 wouldn't these floating habitats flip over constantly, too? Yes, some people pay good money to go on roller-coasters, so ostensibly colonists will pay an entertainment premium of some kind, which will include the random spatial reorientation of the colony. And then there's the sulphuric acid rain... Which means the squeaky clean exterior of the floating colony will be something the colonists can aspire to mimic on the structure's interior, keeping a clean, healthy and presentable environment that all colonists can take pride in. Turn that frown upside-down! Just like the new colony! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazydog7 Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 They should just rename Venus Vegas. That way when people say "fuck that I'm going to Vegas" they could be talking about someplace interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ixodes Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I won't ride in a balloon and I'm certainly not living in one. Period. Those things are always getting blown into power lines and shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinDonner Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I bet there could be some sort of gyroscope mechanism to stop the flipping-over thing. Try harder, Luddites! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mance Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Yes, if only we had some sort of technology we could use to counteract latitudinal forces on floaty things. We could call it a kuul, or a kaal, or something kool like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IheartIheartTesla Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 The Russians also had plans to terraform Venus (in the 70s), by using microorganisms like algae. Glad to see our grand visions have become smaller over time, funding must be a bear. Since Indians and Russians were close before the cold war ended, we got discount russian books including science ones. A lot of their ideas were laid out in such books..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeping Sore Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 People are not going to commit to a presence on Venus untill we realize it is our only source of Melange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Wouldn't wind speeds of up to 700 km/hr in the middle atmosphere pose a problem? Without a hard line of density change (like the difference between ocean water and atmosphere on Earth) wouldn't these floating habitats flip over constantly, too? And then there's the sulphuric acid rain... Hogwash Martian propaganda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch-MaesterPhilip Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 I bet there could be some sort of gyroscope mechanism to stop the flipping-over thing. Try harder, Luddites!This is the exact thought I had only better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ixodes Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Yeah, right. The only thing I trust less than a balloon is a NASA gyroscope. Those suckers had to fake the moon landing so there is no way they're getting a non-flippy balloon* hovering over Venus. ETA: * a non-flippy balloon that won't get blown into powerlines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeping Sore Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 The flippiness is only part of the problem. High or low pressure systems would cause the balloons to drop precipitously or rise suddenly. Basically you'd just be tossed/ blown around constantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAH Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 I won't ride in a balloon and I'm certainly not living in one. Period. Those things are always getting blown into power lines and shit. Power lines is only the secondary priority on Venus, so there will be a grace period before you get blown into one. As for shit, methinks you want to keep fecal matter disposal indoors...700 km/hr wind speeds is a mighty fan for the shit to hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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