Scientists, when asked why the Red Planet is so cold and lifeless, usually answer that this is due to the disappearance of the magnetic field, which happened about 4.2 billion years ago. Solar winds, in the absence of such protection, robbed Mars of most of its atmosphere. A team of NASA researchers suggests there is still a way to preserve what is left. They proposed a magnetic shield, which is supposed to be placed outside the planet at the L1 Lagrange point, and with its help create an artificial magnetosphere. She will scatter radiation and solar winds. Through simulations, it was found that the atmosphere would become denser and could melt carbon dioxide dry ice at the planet's north pole, triggering a greenhouse effect that would melt water and ice and help restore part of the oceans on Mars. In addition, such conditions would be more convenient for long expeditions.
Scientists note that this concept is not as fantastic as it might seem at first glance. Currently, the development of inflatable structures is underway, which allow creating a small magnetosphere, which is necessary for normal operation. The biggest problem is timing. In the event that the magnetic shield will have a quick effect, acting on radiation, it is not known how much time it will take to raise the temperature and thicken the atmosphere. The magnetic shield will act as terraforming, and even fairly rapid changes can take decades. Scientific expeditions will still be forced to go to Mars.
At the same time, the very fact of the existence of such discussions should be noted. This suggests that it is possible to preserve and even slightly improve the atmosphere that remained on the Red Planet, without the significant efforts that are required to directly change Mars.
