Integrated Writing TPO40

Integrated Writing TPO40

The reading contends that it’s impossible to establish permanent human presence on Venus for three reasons. The professor in the lecture, however, argues that setting on Venus is accessible for humans.

First, according to the reading, atmospheric pressure at Venus’s surface is so great that it can damage the spacecraft landing on it, which contradicts the point made in the lecture that scientists are preparing to build a space station distant from Venus’s surface, floating in the atmosphere 50 kilometers far away from the surface. Since there is much less pressure at this height, humans have no need to worry about how to land on Venus.

Second, the point made in the reading is that water and oxygen should be supplied from earth because there is no water on Venus and its atmosphere contains little oxygen or water vapor. On the contrary, the professor asserts that carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid containing in Venus’s atmosphere are perfect sources of water and oxygen. Scientists can use carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid to produce water and oxygen through chemical reaction. Since the raw chemical compounds are sufficient in Venus’s atmosphere, humans don’t need to import water and oxygen if living on Venus.

Finally, the author of the reading refers to the little sunlight on Venus, of which 60% reflect back by thick clouds and even more light is blocked by carbon dioxide, while the lecture points out that clouds are much thinner 50 kilometers above the surface so that more light can go through the clouds and reach the station. Moreover, the station can also make full use of the reflection. It can collect sunlight both reflects from Venus’s surface and comes from the sun directly.