
While Mars often gets the spotlight in discussions about terraforming, there are compelling reasons to consider Venus as the frontrunner in this planetary transformation race.
The atmosphere of Venus is already habitable, and could be used for staging terraforming efforts. Venus has more solar energy potential. Venus has a surface gravity of 8.87 m/s², which is close to Earth's 9.81 m/s², compared to Mars' 3.71 m/s². This higher gravity helps Venus retain an atmosphere more effectively than Mars.
Venus is closer to Earth than Mars, reducing travel time. Venus's thick atmosphere is primarily carbon dioxide, which can be converted into oxygen through processes like photosynthesis or chemical reactions. While the atmospheric pressure on Venus is dense, it may be easier to remove atmosphere than to enhance the thin atmosphere of Mars.
Will resolve N/A if neither planet is terraformed in 175 years.