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The energy cost of air conditioning everything down by 450 degrees is going to be a bit of an obstacle


Not in the upper atmosphere, where temperatures and atmospheric densities are close to Earth-normal.

I think living in zeppelin cities would be logistically difficult for other reasons, but as long as you don't need to go down to the surface you don't need extreme cooling systems.

If you did want people to be able to live on the surface it is kind of an interesting question how you'd manage it. Presumably there'd be ample wind energy available if you can just build a wind turbine that doesn't melt in that environment.

Either way I'd rather go to Mars.


Keeping things aloft is costly too! But the solar radiation should be favourable there, there might be a solution where you have a solar powered aircraft that always stays on the illuminated side of the planet.


Venus has very strong winds even at high altitude. I’m not sure that staying on the sunlit side is technically feasible.




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