The Research Station

The Antarctic Regional Terraforming Project has always been singularly focused: Our goal is to prove the effectiveness of Environmental Generators with the long term goal of implementing these devices on the surface of a foreign world. These generators were developed in part by NeoVenus Construction in partnership with several other smaller research and technology firms.

The Environmental Generators will never completely alter an otherwise uninhabitalble planet or its atmosphere. Therefore, we will seek out worlds that are already close to habitable by humans and utilize the Environmental Generators to take those last few steps in the right direction. In other words, we are looking to find worlds with an atmosphere near our own, an average surface temperature near our own and a gravitational force near our own.

We've chosen Antarctica as the location for our experimental biostation. Antarctica is perfect for the Research Station for a few basic reasons. First, its temperature and harsh environment closely match a few of the planets that we had already slated as potential New World destinations. Second, a number of research facilities already exist on the continent (the two permanent U.S. stations are pictured), which allows us the opportunity to work in conjunction with a number of other research facilities and agencies. Additionally, from a strictly geographical standpoint, our Research Station is in a well protected valley which affords access to 111 geo-thermal springs and aids us in our terraforming of the frozen landscape.

The above chart lists out the temperatures often experienced in the forbidding climes of Antarctica. Please note that the temperatures are extremely steady and reliable, and never climb above 0 degrees.

The above chart depicts the temperatures tracked here at our Station. Please note that the temperatures are highly compatible with human life and are well maintained. You will note a sharp decline in temperatures suffered by the facility in 1995, with a recovery occurring in 1996 and 1997. This temperature decrease coincides with a failure of an early model Environmental Generator (one of three operating at the time). With the newer models, we have not only been able to maintain the environment more consistently, but the three generators are never operating at full capacity. We see this as a fail safe in the event that one generator shuts down. The load can be picked up by the other two systems while repairs are affected on the down system with no significant altering of the environment.

Additional Research

Along with the environmental research we are conducting, we are also intensely investigating the effects various plant life has on our project. Plants contribute the most to our goals with the least cost to our energy needs, allowing us to eventually phase out the Environmental Generators and letting the New Environment take over the process. Our research has shown that for any planet to become completely re-engineered, we would first have to establish and maintain stable environments on nearly 30% of the planets surface before being able to start taking machines offline and letting the natural process take over. This, of course, means we will have to solve the energy issue for running those Generators. How do we power enough Environmental Generators on any given planet without directly competing with our own goals of establishing a clean natural environment?

Timeline

1991 - ARTP (Antarctic Regional Terraforming Project) chooses the site to begin groundbreaking for a new project in environmental manipulation and control.

1993 - ARTP first wave bio-facilities completed and brought online.

1994 - First longterm researchers arrive for a six month stay in the already changing environment. Average air temperatures within the research area have shown a nearly 60 degree Fahrenheit swing. Surface ice has nearly completely melted away.

1994 - Second wave researchers arrive and join the existing crew. The environment shows amazing progress with the growth of dozens of species of plantlife. The crew is growing much of its own food at this stage.

1996 - One project's main environmental generators fails. This is nearly catastrophic to the Project, resulting in a nearly 2 year setback in the environment's growth.

1999 - The Project exceeds previous size records, but eventually holds steady at 22 acres of growth.

2001 - Regional growth holds steady at 22 acres with no major fluctuations for a full 2 year term. Plant and animal life now contributes greatly to the environment's maintenance. Environmental Generators no longer need to run at full capacity to maintain environment.

2003 - New Environmental Generators are installed. The new models are smaller in size and take less energy to maintain. Some growth in the environment size is observed, but the net result is considered negligible.