Could we make Mars habitable? That question has captivated scientists and dreamers alike for decades, but now a bold new proposal is pushing the boundaries of possibility. The idea is nothing short of radical: using targeted asteroid impacts to trigger climate change on Mars. It may sound like the plot of a sci-fi movie, yet behind the headlines, real scientists are running simulations, crunching numbers, and exploring the feasibility of this daring concept. The goal? To warm the planet’s surface, release trapped gases, and possibly spark the beginnings of an atmosphere—one step closer to making Mars a second home for humanity.
A Polish researcher proposes an extreme method to terraform Mars for humans. Leszek Czechowski of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw wants to deliberately “fire” asteroids at the Red Planet . The goal is to massively compress the extremely thin Martian atmosphere (currently only ~0.6 percent of Earth’s pressure). At current pressures, human blood would begin to boil in seconds without a protective suit .
A minimum target of 10 kilopascals of pressure (about one-tenth of that on Earth) would eliminate this danger and at least raise the boiling point of water to around 50 degrees Celsius – a first step towards making life outside of habitats conceivable. Czechowski’s plan envisions harnessing the power of giant asteroids from the distant Kuiper Belt—a frigid region beyond Neptune’s orbit filled with comet nuclei and dwarf planets. This icy expanse is home to rocks rich in crucial substances such as frozen water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other volatiles, which are essential for creating a denser atmosphere on Mars. These materials, when introduced to the Martian surface, could help in building the necessary gas envelope to warm the planet. In contrast, asteroids from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter are deemed unsuitable for the task, as they contain too few of these vital components. The even more remote Oort Cloud, with its billions of comet nuclei surrounding the outer edges of the solar system, was also quickly ruled out due to the immense transport time—over 15,000 years—required to bring asteroids from such a far-flung location.
The transport itself is a technical feat: Future missions would have to select a suitable asteroid and slow it down slightly so that it “falls” toward the inner solar system due to the sun’s gravitational pull. The actual course correction to Mars would then take place over decades using “gravity assist”—i.e., using the gravity of planets to redirect the rock. According to Czechowski’s calculations, the flight time from the Kuiper Belt to Mars alone would be between 29 and 63 years. Czechowski proposes the vast lowland Hellas Planitia on the Red Planet as the target for impact. The impact is expected to heat up Mars, enrich the atmosphere, and possibly even trigger volcanism, which could release further gases. However, the plan comes with enormous risks and challenges. Comet nuclei from the Kuiper Belt are not solid, stable rocks, but rather loose collections of ice and dust. As these asteroids approach the Sun or undergo critical gravity-assist maneuvers, they could become unstable, potentially breaking apart or disintegrating. Additionally, the energy required for the necessary course corrections—precise adjustments to the asteroid’s trajectory—would be astronomical. Depending on the size of the asteroid, this could require between 40 percent and eight times humanity’s total annual energy consumption. Given these daunting energy demands, Czechowski suggests that the only feasible solution might be to equip the asteroid with a fusion reactor and a highly efficient ion engine—an advanced energy source capable of sustaining the complex maneuvering and adjustments needed to guide the asteroid toward Mars.
The concept remains highly speculative, more of a vision for the distant future than an immediate reality. Short-term plans for manned missions, such as those being developed by NASA, continue to focus on protected habitats for astronauts, as they explore safer, more feasible approaches to Mars. Czechowski presented his calculations in March 2025 at the esteemed 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in The Woodlands, Texas, showcasing the fundamental possibility of his idea while highlighting the monumental energy challenges and critical technical risks involved, particularly in the delicate flight maneuvers of the massive chunks of ice and rock. For now, his proposal remains a fascinating thought experiment—one that may inspire future generations of engineers and planetary scientists to think beyond today’s limitations and envision a new frontier for humanity.
