Researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) are working to address key challenges of space settlement, focusing on what is needed for humans to live safely and sustainably on other planets. NASA has announced plans to send astronauts to Mars in the 2030s as part of a broader effort to expand human presence beyond Earth.
Ramses Ramirez, an assistant professor in UCF’s College of Sciences, leads research into terraforming Mars by studying how Martian nanoparticles could be used to warm the planet’s surface. Ramirez examines the planet’s paleoclimate to understand its past habitability and how its former water resources might be restored. “The question is, does [Mars] still have enough of those resources that it once had?” Ramirez says. “Do those resources still exist in some form today? And if they don’t exist, then how can we make up the gaps so that it can reclaim its former glory? So from my perspective, that’s what makes Mars interesting in terms of a potential second home for humans and for life here on Earth.”
Ramirez’s research includes developing a process to create cylindrical nanorods from Martian soil, which would be sprayed into the atmosphere to trap heat. This method could raise surface temperatures and support plant growth. He states, “It can host at least Earth-type life, or at least conditions that are warm enough with high enough pressures and low enough toxicity to survive on a world like Mars.” The study suggests these nanorods may be significantly more effective than previous methods and could reduce costs by using local materials.
Efforts are also underway to develop food sources for potential settlers. Space Resource Technologies, a company originating from UCF’s Exolith Lab, has created simulated Martian soil used for plant growth experiments. Past missions such as Viking, Curiosity, and Perseverance have found organic matter on Mars, indicating the possibility that building blocks for life may have existed there.
Reliable power sources will be necessary for any sustained presence on another planet. Solar panels currently power rovers on Mars, while radioisotope thermal generators use plutonium-238 decay for electricity. NASA is developing compact fission systems designed to provide continuous power, even when sunlight is limited.
Venus presents different challenges due to its thick atmosphere and high surface pressure, but researchers see potential 31 miles above the surface where conditions are more similar to Earth’s environment. Concepts include spacecraft that could fly above Venus’ clouds and systems to extract oxygen from carbon dioxide in the air.
Ramirez emphasizes UCF’s commitment to advancing research in this area: “I am excited to help pioneer UCF’s efforts to send humans to other planets. I think we have the resources and capital at this university to make big dreams like this a reality,” he says. “I am always trying to improve the way we think about how humans can settle other planets. My ongoing work in trying to understand what makes planets habitable gives me a unique perspective on how we, as humankind, can do the same on other worlds.”
