I have a SF short-story idea, but I'm having a problem fleshing it out (terraforming question here)

[krispos42]

2. I can't think of an easy way to jump-start the core.

I suppose you could generate some sort of massive electromagnetic field and apply it to the core, making it spin and letting the friction build up heat, but that's one hell of a project.


However, as long as humans had the technology, we could resupply the atmosphere of, say, Mars with a daily bombardment of huge chunks of ice from Earth.

Assuming we build one or more space elevators, then we could regularly pump up vast quantities of water to the edge of the tether and let them loose at the precise time to put them on an orbit for Mars. Slamming a few thousands tons of mineral-and-organism-rich seawater into Mars every day could really help keep the atmosphere thick and would provide needed moisture.

Just, yanno... aim really carefully.