Experts, including Dr. Erika DeBenedictis, highlight that breakthroughs in space launch technology, synthetic biology, and climate modeling now make exploring terraforming a worthwhile scientific pursuit.

This process involves careful laboratory studies, climate modeling, and small-scale experiments to ensure a cautious and deliberate progression before any large-scale efforts.

A second phase may involve engineering extremophile microbes through synthetic biology to survive harsh conditions and help transform the atmosphere via photosynthesis, potentially within a few decades.

The proposed phased approach begins with warming Mars using aerosols or greenhouse gases to melt ice reserves, creating liquid water and forming an ocean covering nearly four million square kilometers.

Key unknowns include the composition of Mars's subsurface, the behavior of dust storms in altered climates, and the availability of materials needed for water electrolysis, all of which could impact the feasibility of terraforming.

Recent scientific advancements have transformed the concept of terraforming Mars from an impossible dream to a challenging yet potentially feasible endeavor, prompting serious research efforts.

The final goal is to develop an oxygen-rich atmosphere, enabling humans to live on the surface, initially within domed habitats, and gradually spreading plant life over centuries or even millennia.

Ethical considerations are significant, as terraforming could irreversibly alter Mars and threaten existing microbial life, raising questions about planetary preservation versus human expansion.