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| Nonetheless, its proximity and likelihood of containing bio-metal deposits keep it on the top half of the list. |
| Venus' atmosphere of carbon dioxide and thick cloud cover of highly concentrated sulfuric acid cause an intense greenhouse effect. Although not much light penetrates the dense atmosphere, what does make it through is reradiaded as infared light, resulting in the intense heat of the planet's surface, far exceeding that of any other planet or moon in the solar system. |
| The atmosphere is also extremely dense, the equivalent of about 1 kilometer below Earth's oceans. The severe pressure will require special structural engineering in order to avoid being crushed. While Venus' upper atmosphere is characterized by strong winds, its lower atmosphere is relatively calm. Regardless, we should be able to generate sufficent lightning power due to intense electrical activity on Venus. |
| Trace amounts of water vapor have been found in the environment and could be tapped in order to help sustain life on Venus' surface. For the most part, however, establishing a mining base on Venus will require importing all life-sustaining resources from other locales.
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