TPO 40 Human presence on Venus

The reading and the lecture are both about whether or not it is possible for humans to maintain presence on Venus. The author of the reading feels that due to extreme conditions on Venus, it is impossible for human to maintain their presence there. However, the lecturer casts doubt on each of the possible reasons made in the article. The speaker is of the opinion that human can maintain their presence on Venus by establishing a station like balloon which can float above the Venus.

First off, the author argues that the atmospheric pressure on the Venus is high greater than the pressure at Earth's surface. The lecturer, however, refutes this idea by mentioning that high pressure on Venus is equal to the pressure on the Earth. In addition, there will actually be no danger of station getting crushed on Venus.

Secondly, the author contends that chemical compositions like carbon dioxide, nitrogen and sulfuric acid on Venus surface hardly carry any water and oxygen. So, it needs to have to be supplied to Venus from Earth. On the other hand, the lecturer claims that through some chemical processes, we can obtain water and oxygen from compounds like carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid. As a result, water and oxygen can easily be obtained on Venus. There would not be any need to supply them from Earth to Venus.

Lastly, the author posits that there is little sunlight reaches the surface of the planet as thick clouds prevent it from reaching it to the Earth. Therefore, the lack of sunlight would prevent the use of solar power cells and simply because of that humans could not get electricity to power any machines and equipment on Earth. This specific argument is challenged by the lecturer. He mentions that clouds above the Venus surface level are not thick so sunlight can easily reach to the Earth's surface. He puts forth the idea that clouds reflect sunlight. As a consequence, solar power cells collect both the direct sunlight filter above and sunlight reflect below. the clouds. Thus, more electricity generates to power the station.