07-07-2017, 03:03 AM
Regarding the soil issue - various options. Terraformers could:
a) Deploy self-replicating soil processors across the planet to convert the soil into something that could support life. Depending on the sophistication of the tech, these might be the size of a large building - or the size of a Earthworm. In OA, and based on what we describe for the situation on Mercury, they would probably be about the size of a bulldozer or maybe a farm animal.
b) Gengineer up some kind of plant or other lifeform that could consume the toxic materials and either sequester them or convert them to something more life friendly.
c) Modify the overall planetary conditions in some fashion such that the toxic materials are neutralized or bound up in something else or the like.
Regarding planetary magnetic fields - In the OA setting, an artificial magnetosphere was created as part of the Mars terraforming process to help protect the planet. Presumably similar things are routinely done throughout the setting once the tech was perfected at Mars and other early terraforming projects during the Federation and such.
Todd
a) Deploy self-replicating soil processors across the planet to convert the soil into something that could support life. Depending on the sophistication of the tech, these might be the size of a large building - or the size of a Earthworm. In OA, and based on what we describe for the situation on Mercury, they would probably be about the size of a bulldozer or maybe a farm animal.
b) Gengineer up some kind of plant or other lifeform that could consume the toxic materials and either sequester them or convert them to something more life friendly.
c) Modify the overall planetary conditions in some fashion such that the toxic materials are neutralized or bound up in something else or the like.
Regarding planetary magnetic fields - In the OA setting, an artificial magnetosphere was created as part of the Mars terraforming process to help protect the planet. Presumably similar things are routinely done throughout the setting once the tech was perfected at Mars and other early terraforming projects during the Federation and such.
Todd