In its four years in orbit, the MAVEN spacecraft has observed the Martian upper atmosphere for two Mars years. Team scientists are able to use the data to determine the loss of gas from the atmosphere to space integrated over Martian history. These results can be combined with observations from other spacecraft to constrain the CO₂ inventory through time and the sinks to which CO₂ has gone.
The results provide scientists with information about the transition from an early warm, wet environment to the cold, dry climate we have today, and also allow us to discuss the potential future human-driven evolution of the Martian atmosphere.
In this presentation from September 20, 2018, MAVEN Principal Investigator, Bruce Jakosky, provides an update on the latest data from the mission and discusses whether or not terraforming the Red Planet is possible, given the available resources and today's technological capabilities.
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