(2019 Archived) THE RISE OF COLONIES ON THE VENUSIAN CLOUD-TOPS AND VENUSIAN CLOUD-CITIES [Outdated]

 (Outdated)

The Phases of Colonization

The colonization of an alien world, or technically anything, could be divided into three common stages; those three stages are universally applicable to all potential colonies, which are as follows ^[a]:

The first phase is based on exploration, which would include the cartography of environment and looking for resources. If North America were to be taken as our example; it would be the arrival of Columbus and his fleet, and some of the following missions. They set up camps, mapped the area, and went looking for resources. But they didn’t stay there for long; after a while, they abandoned camp and went back to their motherland ^[a].

But they returned to establish true colonies. They set-up outposts and founded settlements, but they were still very dependent on their countries-of-origin; this is the context of a phase-II colonies i.e. ‘sufficient via imports from place-of-origin’. Some of these colonies will fail, but the ones that do succeed will proceed with establishing a permanent presence; they will head to phase-III ^[a].

As for phase-III in the context of North America: Tradesmen and labourers began to immigrate, and use the prevalent opportunities for themselves and their families. The colonies began to produce-to fulfil their requirements, and send their wealth back to their countries-of-origin. Phase-III colonies are ‘self-sufficient via exports to place-of-origin’ ^[a]. Such colonies, after a while will tend to obtain independence, especially when their origin-place begins to capitalize on them.

Phase-I of Venusian Colonization                                                        

It is safe to say that phase I of Venusian colonization already begun, as we’ve managed to get a healthy understanding of Venusian cartography, atmosphere, topology and geology, through unmanned exploration. My opinion is that this phase began in 1961, when Venera 1 flew-by Venus ^[31].We’ve been exploring Venus ever since, although not-as-much after the 1980s. The manned HAVOC missions will also be part of this phase, including the mission with the one-year atmospheric stay, as this mission is short-lived and based on exploration and experiment. Afterwards, the airship will be abandoned mid-flight.

Phase-II of Venusian Colonization                                               

Well, I believe that the manned HAVOC mission with one-year atmospheric stay will be synonymous to the transition from phase I to phase-II. I also believe the first few attempts of permanent residence to be part of this transaction, as well.

There would be a larger crew of scientists and engineers, who would do the ground-work to stay permanently ^[a]: They will experiment available material, and develop methodologies of utilizing them, with the aim of attaining self-sufficiency.

The missions of permanent residence that follow will have a higher success rate with increased sustainability; they can live permanently in the Venusian atmosphere. I believe that the crew might be able to utilize available material from the Venusian atmosphere and produce essential resources like oxygen, water, carbon hydrogen or sulphur. The crew might experiment with agriculture and horticulture; maintain and harvest communal farms, and perhaps grow meat from stem-cells.

Nevertheless, they will still be quite heavily dependent on supplies from the Earth, including food and infrastructure. They are sufficient, yet still dependent on their place-of-origin i.e. the Earth for supplies. Thus, this system is in-accordance with the criteria of a phase II colony.

Sustainable Cycling of Essential Resources in Venus            

A perpetual system of cycling essential resources; Water, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Sulphur etc, is essential for a self-sufficient biosphere. The same is for the Venusian cloud-cities or any extra-terrestrial colony. But, a perpetual system will not run forever; there will always be something to disrupt it:

Those essential recourses could be lost, and methodologies of generating those recourses are required to compensate for it. I would like to suggest a few of the alleged methodologies, for retrieving essential resources using the available material in the Venusian atmosphere, based on the experience gained from preceding chapters:                                                        

Methodologies of Producing Water                                             

Water could be obtained through the electrolysis or thermal decomposition of atmospheric Sulphuric Acid. Water could also be produced during the Claus process or Bosch reaction.

 

Methodologies of Oxygen Generation                                       

Oxygen is an essential component in any human biosphere, and could be extracted by the electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide, which produces Carbon Monoxide and Carbon respectively, with Oxygen as the by-products. This shouldn’t be difficult as Carbon Dioxide is the dominant gas in the Venusian atmosphere, and a substantial amount of Carbon Monoxide could be created from the electrolysis of that Carbon Dioxide.

Furthermore, Oxygen could be obtained via photosynthesis, both natural and artificial. Natural photosynthesis using plants, perhaps even the crops, and artificial photosynthesis will produce formaldehyde with oxygen as a by-product. The 42% increase in availability of light on Venus means that photosynthesis will be more effective.

Moreover, Oxygen could be produced by the thermal decomposition of Sulphur Trioxide and the electrolysis of Sulphuric acid, present in the Venusian atmosphere.

Methodologies of Hydrogen Production                               

Hydrogen could most reliably be produced, by the electrolysis of Water or atmospheric Sulphuric Acid. Hydrogen could be used as a lifting gas (but risky), but most likely as a combustible energy source. By the way, Oxygen too is produced in the aforementioned electrolyses. Hydrogen and Oxygen, is technically rocket fuel.

 

 

Extraction of Nitrogen                                                                      

3 bars of the Venusian atmosphere is acquired by Nitrogen. Nitrogen, being inert, could be used as a good buffer gas for the prevention of Oxygen toxicity. The derived ions of Nitrogen; the Nitrates, Nitrites and Ammoniums, could be used in making agricultural lands on Venus, fertile.

Methodologies of Carbon Production                              

Elemental Carbon could be produced by the electrolysis of Carbon Monoxide, or during a Bosch reaction. The Carbon produced, will be quintessential in keeping the Carbon cycle in the cloud-cities up-and-running, and compensate for Carbon lost to the outside.  

Methodologies of Sulphur Production                                           

Sulphur is ideally produced during the Claus process, using Hydrogen Sulphide and Sulphur Dioxide, with water as a by-product. Sulphur and its derived ions are fertile, and could be used in Venusian agriculture.

Sending Material to the Venusian Cloud-tops                             

As we’ve previously seen; sending material to the Venusian cloud-tops, than for Mars, and done with the assistance of “Large-diameter hollow spheres of titanium [, which] have no difficulty in surviving atmospheric entry” ^[18]. For example, the Helium-tank of Salyut 1, survived atmospheric entry (being intact), in 1991.

Theoretically, if such a hollow sphere (metal balloons) as above, were to be pressurized appropriately with the right gases; the buoyancy of the spheres will keep it floating, appropriately at the altitude where the cloud-cities reside. It could be designed to carry a payload, which could be the supplies sent from the Earth.

 Figure 30: A diagram of a proposed Titanium metal-balloon ^[18].

A standard Titanium-balloon would have a shell of only 2mm thickness and a corrosion barrier of 2µm. The balloon will carry a payload and filled with an inert gas, ideally moist Nitrogen ^[18].

 

The Cross-Road to a Phase III Colony on Venus

The Venusian Cloud-Colonies cannot remain in phase II forever; if the colonists require  a constant supply from the Earth, Governments might lose interest along with the general public, who are technically footing the bill, and funding will shut-down ^[a]. In such a scenario, the Venusian Cloud-Colonies could permanently be abandoned.

Instead, the Venusians must find their own ways of developing infrastructure, harvest a yield sufficient for their needs, and technically be in need of less-and-less supplies from the Earth.  Their pursuit of self-sufficiency and solo infrastructure development would be realized. But, phase III will only arrive once the Venusians obtain a surplus, which could be exported back to the Earth, mostly like bartering. The Venusian cloud-colonies will have to be ‘self-sufficient via exports to the Earth’ ^[a]. But, while agriculture and related means of food-production could be implemented and worked to self-sufficiency, but shelter or rather infrastructure development will be more challenging; especially regarding extraction and production of relevant material.

 

The Composition of the Venusian Surface and Soil

Our knowledge of the surface chemistry of Venus is rather vague, as not many landers managed to survive long-enough to get a perfectly accurate reading.

Venera 8 found the presence of igneous rock, including graphite. By similar means Venera 9, Venera 10, Vega 1, and Vega 2 established the presence of basalt rocks, on the Venusian surface ^[35]. They also found the Venusian surface to have traces of radioactive elements, including some isotopes of Uranium, Potassium and Thorium. Furthermore, the highest elevations of Venusian terra have been found to be coated with a layer on semiconducting material, likely Pyrite (FeS₂) or Magnetite (A magnetic Fe₃O₄) ^[35].

Figure 31: These are rendered images of the Venusian surface, originally taken from the Venera 13 lander, with some of the atmospheric effects removed. The surface is mainly comprised of Basalt rocks.

What could be extracted from the Venusian Surface?

The Venusian surface is largely made-up of Basalt rocks, which will be our key resource. Other than that, (1) Carbon could be extracted from Graphite, and the (2) traces of radioactive material if extracted, could be used for radioisotope power conversions and thereby an energy source.

So, what are these Basalt rocks made-up of? What can we extract from it? Basalt Rocks are composed of three main ingredients; Pyroxene, Plagioclase and Olivine. But what are they? Their chemical formulae reveal it ^[36]:

Figure 32: This is a rather elegant processed-image of Maat Mons; a very tall Venusian volcano. Higher elevations of the Venusian surface, like Maat Mons, might be covered by a layer of semiconducting material.

1.      Pyroxene    : (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Al,Si)₂O

2.      Plagioclase :  CaAl₂Si₂O  and  NaAlSi₃O

3.      Olivine        : (Mg,Fe)₃SiO₄

As could be seen, the components of Basalt have an essence of Haematite (Fe₂O₃), Alumina (Al₂O₃) and Silica (SiO₂). Along with the vast amount of Basalt in the surface, a vast amount of (3) Iron, (4) Aluminium, and (5) Silicon could be produced respectively. Furthermore; (6) Calcium, (7) Sodium, and (8) Magnesium could be processed in mass quantities from the Basalt rocks. Pyroxene, Plagioclase and Olivine could be processed into Haematite, Aluminium Oxide (Alumina) and Silicon Dioxide (Silica), with the remainder processed into other material.

 

Extraction of Iron

Typically, Iron extraction is based on the principle of reducing Haematite, typically with Carbon Monoxide and the assistance of a blast furnace.

Fe₂O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂                                                   

Haematite is typically impure, with Alumina and Silica mixed into it. To address this issue, we add limestone into the blast furnace, which would decompose into Calcium Oxide (CaO) and Carbon Dioxide (CO₂). The Calcium Oxide will react with the impurities to form slag, which are mostly Calcium Aluminates and Calcium Silicates. Slag is less dense than molten iron and floats on it, allowing the slag and pure molten iron to be extracted separately.

Fe₂O₃ + 3H₂ → 2Fe + 3H₂O                           

Another approach is to reduce pure Haematite with Hydrogen, also probably with higher temperatures and an Iron-Chrome or Copper Catalyst. It is as follows ^[36]. Water is produced as a by-product of this reaction, which could be electrolysed to again retrieve Hydrogen, which could be reused in the reaction.

 

Extraction of Aluminium

Before going into this topic, we must take into account, a mineral named Cryolite. Cryolite (Na₃AlF₆) is better known as Sodium Hexafluoroaluminate in the scientific world, has this amazing ability to dissolve Alumina, when molten ^[41]. Once this solution is electrolysed, Aluminium will deposit on the negative Graphite anode, and Oxygen will bubble-off from the positive Graphite cathode. Molten Cryolite could potentially dissolve the alumina essence in the basalt rocks, which would later be electrolysed into Aluminium and Oxygen.

It will take a power of 20kWe to create a kilogram of Aluminium, which is quite expensive in the terms of Mars, which also has to deal with the constraints of less solar energy. It shouldn’t be as expensive on Venus, which receives more sunlight, convertible to electricity ^[36].

The light-weight nature of aluminium might be helpful in maintaining lift of the cloud-cities, rather than other elements. Some still argue that the strong-and-light Carbon Fibre could also be a better candidate, to be used for the purpose ^[36].

 

Extraction of Silicon

Silica and Silica-based material which make up an essence in the Basalt rocks could also be dissolved in molten Cryolite, later to be electrolysed into Silicon and Oxygen ^{[Based on 36]}. 

What Useful Material could be Produced on Venus?                 

Based on the variety of recourses we have, many useful materials could be manufactured: When I think of Silica and its usages, I always remember (1) Glass. Glass is manufactured with controlled melting of sand or quartz, which in fact, are Silicon Dioxides (Silica). Basically, glass is molten sand which solidified.

Silicon could be reacted with hot Hydrogen, to create a gas named Silane (SiH₄), which is easily extractable from other gases. This reaction is reversible, and could be used to extract Silicon of pure quality. Moreover, (2) Silane is a surprisingly good candidate for a Venusian fuel, mainly because it is combustible in Carbon Dioxide ^[36]; the dominant gas in the Venusian atmosphere! The combustion of Silane is as follows:

SiH₄ + 2CO₂ → SiO₂ + 2C + 2H₂O                       

CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O                      

Notice how this reaction closely resembles the combustion of Methane. Yeah, Silane is technically Methane, a common fuel on the Earth, with the Carbon substituted with Silicon ^[36]. Silane’s combustibility in Carbon Dioxide is a leg-up in its practicality of usage on Venus. It could be used along with solar energy, and some radio-isotopic energy sources, to power Venusian civilization.

 (3) Water and Hydrochloric acid are electrolysed in mass scale, they could mass-produce (4) Rocket fuel; which is mostly Hydrogen and Oxygen. (5) Transistors and (6) Diodes could be produced, utilizing semiconducting material, most appropriately Silicon.  Furthermore, Silicon could be used to produce (7) Silicone Oil and Grease, (8) Silicone Rubber, (9) Silica Gel, (10) Concrete and (11) Cement ^[44].

Aluminium is a great resource, extractable from Venusian terra. (12) Aluminium Foil, which is used in packaging, could be made from Aluminium. (13) Alumina is known as a catalyst, most notably in the Claus Process, which is technically raw Aluminium ore. (14) Aluminium compounds like Aluminium Sulfate and Acetate have a variety of functions, in this case, as in water treatment and Astringency, respectively ^[42]. 

Similarly, (15) Iron and Aluminium have a common function in the infrastructure of the Venusian cloud-cities. On the other hand, Iron could further be used as a catalyst; notably in the Haber-Bosch process of producing (16) Ammonia, and the Fischer-Tropsch process of converting Carbon Monoxide into Hydrocarbons, specifically (17) Lubricants and (18) Hydrocarbon fuels ^[44].  

Furthermore, (19) Common Plastics including Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene; which could be manufactured from extractable atmospheric Carbon and Hydrogen, or even Polycarbonates; which could be manufactured when Oxygen in the mix. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC; Polychloroethene), could also be created if Chlorine were to be added ^[37].

It should be noted that out of the many basic elements and compounds creatable and extractable, we can create a wide repertoire of things to manufacture and send back to the Earth. I mean there is still the (20) Calcium, (22) Sodium, and (23) Magnesium, and all its derivatives. I feel that 23 major examples, is quite enough, as more would most likely be redundant. Nevertheless, it should be agreed upon, that many materials could be extracted and mass produced on Venus, which could be used for both the sustainability of the Venusian Cloud-Cites, and export back to the Earth.

Mining and Transportation of Surface Materials to the Venusian Cloud-Tops.                                                                 

Now that we’ve identified a few of the potential resources from the Venusian surface, how are we supposed to mine them? How are we supposed to bring them up the atmosphere, to the Venusian cloud-tops? Well, there are two proposed ways:

1.      Via Airship.

2.      Via Aerobots and Cables.

The Usage of Airships for Collection and Transportation         

It is quite unrecompensed to give labour, in mining the surface, as the surface and even low altitudes are too dangerous. Sending a manned airship to the surface for extraction of resources has much room for error, which is a risk that neither the colonists nor anyone else, would be willing to take.Instead; remote-controlled airships, controlled by the colonists from the cloud-tops, could hover near the surface and deploy nets. The nets would collect and bring the Venusian sands and boulders to the cloud-tops ^[1], where they will be refined and manufactured into various things.

But this still comes with a bunch of problems: The temperature of the near-surface atmosphere might “significantly degrade the performance of solar array”, which would make it “very difficult to produce reasonable efficiency out of [the] solar cells [array]” ^[25]. Moreover, “the spectrum of light reaching the surface is mostly to the red side of the spectrum due to the very thick atmosphere”, which will make it challenging to the solar arrays, which most effectively work while utilizing light from the blue-end of the spectrum ^[25]. This would require the development of new solar arrays, which would take advantage of the reddish light that does reach the surface.

The Usage of Aerobots and Cables for Transportation of Surface Materials to the Venusian Cloud-Tops          

Aerobots could be employed to remotely fly-down near the surface, could deploy nets or grabs, which would attach cables from the cloud-colonies to the Venusian surface. I suppose that the sands and boulders would be loaded into hoppers, which would literally ascend and descend in the Venusian atmosphere, and eventually be recovered from the cloud-colonies The cables would “have balloons with lifting gas attached at intervals along the cable to reduce the tension in the whole cable” ^[1].

The Exploration, Mining and General Activities of the Venusian Surface                                                                             

When dealing with machinery for the Venusian surface, it must obviously not degrade in the lead-meting temperatures, and not be crushed by the 92 bar atmospheric pressure. The machinery must have a strong thermal protection system, and the strength to withstand that pressure.

Figure 33: This is an illustration of the cables, which could be used in transporting surface material to the Venusian cloud-tops. Buoyant balloons would be attached at regular intervals to reduce tension of the entire cable [Isaac Arthur]

Furthermore, the surface would never get a direct view of the sun, with luminous intensity at the surface being 2% of the intensity above the atmosphere, with a spectrum weighted to the red side ^[45]: The Venusian surface gets about the same light intensity as in an unusually reddish rainy day here on the Earth, most probably during sunset. The solar arrays would have to be specially designed to cope with these circumstances. Moreover, “the atmosphere near the surface will contain significant amounts of sulphur compounds, such as SO₃ [Sulphur Trioxide], which are corrosive” ^[45]; the machinery would have to be acid-resistant.

I believe that a proposed mission which might be a pioneer, in not only the exploration of the Venusian surface, but also all future machinery that would run in the Venusian surface; the mission is of a rover designed to sojourn the Venusian deserts and plains.

Figure 34: This is a conceptual illustration of a rover on Venus ^[45].

The missions done with the proposed rovers would operate at multiple latitudes around Venus, at average surface altitude. Most importantly, “a dedicated [solar powered] airplane is associated with each surface rover. The airplane carries the rover’s computer, and the electronic package on the rover it-self is a simple package with discrete components, made using high-temperature semiconductors” ^[45]. Furthermore, the rover would have a Stirling refrigeration system and high-temperature solar cells, which would deal with the high temperatures and Rayleigh scattering of light respectively ^[45].

Well, the machinery designed to mine would be designed quite similar to mining machinery systems on the Earth, almost resembling in every way. Except that, it is modified for flawless functioning on the Venusian surface. And we could apply some points that we’ve learnt regarding the rover, to do so. Based on what we’ve learned, I believe that, the Venusian surface machinery and mining systems would have:

1.      Heavy Thermal Protection Systems.

2.      Strong Structure to deal with atmospheric pressure.

3.      High Temperature solar cells, modified to the red spectrum.

4.      Stirling Refrigeration systems.

5.      Remotely controlled from cloud-tops.

6.      Simple Discrete Components.

7.      Acid Resistance.

8.      Radio-isotopic power systems ^[45].

9.      Easy to remotely control and manage.

10.  Durability

11.  Easy to repair remotely.

12.  Energy Storage.

Changing Concepts: Geodesic Domes and Buckminster Fuller’s Cloud Nine

A geodesic dome is a “hemispherical thin-shell structure based on the geodesic polyhedron”. The speciality of geodesic domes is that “the triangular elements of the dome are structurally rigid and distribute structural stress throughout the structure making geodesic domes able to withstand very heavy loads for their scale” ^[38]. The renowned architect Buckminster Fuller is well known for working with these geodesic domes. One of his greatest unrealized plans was Cloud Nine, which was “his proposed airborne habitats created from geodesic spheres, which might be made to levitate by slightly heating the air inside above ambient temperature” ^[39].

Figure 35: This is a conceptual illustration of the floating geodesic spheres of Cloud Nine. They are covered with some skin, to trap air inside.

Before asking as to how these giant structures float, it must be known that, the strength of a geodesic sphere is directly proportional to its size. That is; the larger the geodesic sphere, the stronger it is. This relationship exists owing to the unique and efficient distribution of stress in the structure’s surface. Moreover, as a sphere grows larger, the volume it encloses will increase at a much higher rate, than the mass of the structure itself ^[39]. But, how does this help Cloud Nine to float?

Well, here is where the magic comes in: Surface-to-volume calculations of a Cloud Nine with a diameter of 0.8km reveal that the weight of the structure is equivalent to 1/1000^th of the air it holds inside! Isn’t it amazing? C’mon, I mean the Cloud Nine depicted in the above illustration are as tall as the cliffs in the background! Using this principle, even an un-skinned sphere of that calibre, could float as easily as a hot air balloon just by increasing the inside temperature by a degree ^[40]!

In simpler terms, the mass of the geodesic sphere “would become negligible compared to the mass of the air trapped within it”, and “if the air inside the sphere is heated even by one degree higher than ambient temperature of its surroundings, the sphere could become airborne” ^[39]. I believe that this is one of the few instances where, the square-cube law (which limits the maximum size if mammals) works for us, rather than against us.

For instance, we could have a large geodesic sphere with a diameter of 1.6km could support a city, which would in-turn sustain a population of several thousands of people ^[40]. Some other features of a Cloud Nine are that it “could be tethered, or free floating, or manoeuvrable so that it could migrate in response to climatic and environmental changes” ^[39]. 

 

Also, I imagine that Fuller must have imagined Cloud Nine to be many geodesic spheres combined, as depicted in my rather horrible image

Bringing Cloud Nine to Venus

If we were to do the math right, we might be able to keep the geodesic spheres of Cloud Nine afloat just above the Venusian cloud-tops, at the goldilocks zone of the Venusian atmosphere. After some crafty engineering, we might even be able to suspend and sustain a thriving city, a home of several thousands of colonists, inside it.

As for the skin of the sphere: “Normal glass such as for house windows would be fine also for the outside windows – or lighter plastics” ^[1]. The skin of the spheres would not necessarily have to be opaque leather or similar material. Transparent materials, as glass or plastics (which could easily be manufactured from the Venusian soil and atmosphere) supported by a steel frame, would be quite alright. The mass of the frame and skin would still be dwarfed by the mass of the air it holds. And as long as the air inside, doesn’t diffuse to the outside, a Cloud Nine  on the Venusian cloud-tops, is a completely feasible option, for building up a city and eventually a civilization.

I believe that, a Cloud Nine above the cloud-tops will be fundamental in the transition to phase-III colonization of Venus. Yes, until this structure is made, we’d have to rely on the giant floating structures of the phase-V HAVOC mission, where extracting resources from the surface might prove to be difficult. The first Cloud Nine city; the first cloud-city might have to be built at the Earth’s expense.  But, afterwards the Venusian colonists would be able to look after themselves, and find resources from the surface, create their own infrastructure and eventually build new cloud-cities. I believe that constructing the first cloud-city will be our last obligation to the Venusians; Afterwards we wouldn’t have to intervene anymore, their affairs would be theirs to look after and we could focus on humanity’s other goals. Yet, we might still help here and there when the Venusians need us, perhaps while getting rich over the treasures they trade with the Earth.

Figure 36: A cross-sectional diagram of the interior of a Cloud Nine.

Still, the cross sectional diagram shows most of Cloud Nine to be empty space! Is it worth the expense, even though it will accomplish its purpose? Yes, the diagram depicts a Cloud Nine designed to float on the Earth, not Venus. And that would require the Cloud Nine to lessen the density of the air inside it, even by a simple degree. But the mass of the air would be so great that, it would require a very large heating system to do so. And the convectional currents might generate some strong winds. It is why I believe as to the actual habitat being protected by metre-thick water sheaths. But still, a habitat with an area of 2.0114km² and a height of 100m is still quite large. Several thousands of people would be able to call it home.

But on Venus, the scenario is different; even if we were to fill a Venusian Cloud Nine with the air that you and I are breathing now, the structure would still float above the Venusian cloud-tops! Why? Because the density of the air inside the habitat, which is the density of the air you and me are currently breathing, is equal to the density of the Venusian air above the cloud-tops (In the goldilocks zone of the Venusian atmosphere). In simpler terms, the Venusian cloud-tops is aerodynamically equivalent to that of near (and at) the Earth’s surface. If we were to take a Venusian Cloud Nine to Earth, it would not float! It would simply stay on the surface (or hover a millimetre or centimetre above). Similarly, if we were to bring a working Cloud Nine for Earth to Venus, it would float much higher above the Venusian cloud-tops! (From now onwards, the Venusian Cloud Nines, would be referred as the ‘cloud-cities’) Well, if that were the case, then the Venusian Cloud-cities wouldn’t require a heating system, and much more space could be utilized for habitation, wouldn’t it? Technically yes, but that would increase its weight, and the cloud-city would sink into the abyss below the cloud-tops. Yeah, a heating system would be required to keep the cloud-city floating above the cloud-tops. Still, not as largely as required for the Cloud Nines on Earth; there would be more room for habitation. 

 

On the Mid-atmospheric Construction of a Cloud Nine

Of the entire affair of constructing a Cloud Nine on Venus, I believe the largest challenge to be building it mid-air, as doing so in the Venusian surface isn’t feasible to the slightest degree. But before that, we would have to learn to build it on our surface! We do have plenteous experience of building geodesic domes, which is a situation to our advantage, but we don’t have any experience in building a floating one. But, we have the ’noggin to do so, an one day we’ll set afloat a simpler Cloud Nine, even just a 100m across.

Seeing it would be an awe-inspiring moment relatable to that of the first people to see a hot-air balloon. Afterwards, step-by-step, we would increase the size of the Cloud Nines, to magnitudes that would make Buckminster Fuller shed a happy tear. Afterwards we would begin experimenting with the real challenge. I believe that during those future days, where skilled engineers would fly in fleets of airships, and experiment with constructing a Cloud Nine, in the air. And if this were to prove successful after many sessions of trial-and-error, we are ready to take it to Venus.                                            

 

 

The First Cloud-City

By similar means, the Venusians would do the crafty engineering required for constructing a Cloud Nine above the cloud-tops, while living and assembling things in the giant floating structures of the phase-V HAVOC missions. This will be a highly ambitious target for the Venusian colonists, who might still need a good supply of infrastructure to build it. Afterwards, they can move into the cloud-city; which could resemble terra firma, for the time-being.

I believe that he first cloud-city would revolutionize Venusian lifestyle, as it would provide much more room for habitation, perhaps even redundant space to an extent. The habitation volume will be much more immense, than anything they lived-with, on Venus before.

‘The first Venusian cloud-city’ (let’s call it ‘Venutropolis’ for short), would open corridors of doors of opportunity, to not only (1) improve their quality of life, but to do things they were never able to do before: (2) They can begin mining for resources of the Venusian surface, as Venutropolis would offer a much suited platform to do so. (3) They have room for manufacturing purposes and for generating usable resources.  (4) They have room for assembling new infrastructure, using the resources that they find themselves, within the premises of Venutropolis. (5) They have the room to create new technology and innovations for new systems, such as transportation. (6) Venutropolis could provide room for exporting material back to the Earth, more consistently than any similar means attempted before.

The Future of Phase-II Cloud-Colonies

Slowly, the Venusians would be building another cloud city, the next Venutropolis, while doing their other activities. The Venusians could do it themselves, but we here on the Earth, might be helping in this process. I mean, the colonists are still unable (I guess it to be rather ‘not allowed’) to create offspring on their own; it’s too risky and too early for that.

I believe that the Earth would be sending a constant supply of enthusiastic colonists to the cloud-tops, to live in the Venutropolises. In an ever-increasing population of Venusian colonists, I believe the cities to merge together (Maybe in the form of a cloud or a likely similar fashion), to form a colossal flying conurbation, a gargantuan floating metropolis; the first colony.

Metropolis-by-metropolis, colony-by-colony the Venusian population will grow, along with a massive repertoire of mass-scaled manufacturing of resources. Again I reiterate that, The Venusian Cloud-Colonies wouldn’t remain in phase II forever. Were the colonists to require a constant supply of infrastructure from the Earth, Governments might lose interest along with the general public, and funding will shut-down, leading to the Venusian Cloud-Colonies being permanently abandoned.

But one can argue that, the Cloud-colonies are quite good at their own, with sustainable resources and infrastructure. Still, I don’t believe it to be fulfilling: If funding were to cease, along with public interest, the colonies will fall owing to its weak unstable economy. A dead economy is a dead colony, and a colony wouldn’t survive as a colony without fervour of the mother-origin. Besides, we have an entire phase-III to go through. But, what does it hold in-store for us?

Old Bibliography (Below)

Achinthya Nanayakkara (31.03.2025)

Original - 2019

 

Trailer to the Subsequent Chapter

If the best of phase-II Venusian colonies were to be colossal flying conurbations, gargantuan floating metropolises or immense cloud-colonies; then how would the phase-III Venusian cloud-tops look? Would the cloud-tops be littered by dense agglomerations of hyperpolises, which would cover one’s field-of-view even beyond the horizon? Would Venus appear as an intricately-planned metallic-world, with a light-display of uniform pattern at night and day-side made blue with solar arrays?

We might also run into another question, as to why I named this book “Exodus to Venus”. Well, partly because it rhymes, but mainly because of a real potential exodus to the Venusian cloud-tops. But, what is this exodus? Is it some mass fleeing to Venus, to avert an unavoidable catastrophe here on the Earth? Will there be a refugee armada of spaceships carrying the entire human race to Venus, together sailing the interplanetary ocean with a fleet of uncountable spacecraft with all our belongings? Well, simply no. I believe that, it would more realistically be relatable to an army of business lords racing to a Boxing Day sale, perhaps with a 100% discount on stocks; it would be an economic exodus, with a strong economic drive. This is what the subsequent chapter is about.