Mars will not terraform itself in a generation. It may not
terraform in three. TerraForm Research exists because someone
has to do the work that pays off in 200 years — and DoJoCo
believes that company should have scientists, not just
shareholders.
We study and develop technologies for:
ATMOSPHERIC THICKENING
──────────────────────
Mars has the gases. We need to release and retain them.
Our current research focuses on volatilization of polar CO2
reserves, orbital mirror feasibility studies, and biological
pre-seeding of regolith for long-chain carbon chemistry.
MAGNETIC FIELD AUGMENTATION
────────────────────────────
The lack of a global magnetosphere is Mars' most fundamental
obstacle to long-term habitability. TerraForm Research is
part of the L1 Solar Shield Consortium — a multi-agency effort
to position a magnetic deflector at the Mars-Sun L1 Lagrange
point. Feasibility Phase 2 complete. Funding Phase 3 ongoing.
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
──────────────────
In partnership with the University of Cascadia and the
Kasei Institute of Xenobiology, we are developing
cold-tolerant extremophile strains for surface soil preparation
— the first step toward a future where Mars feeds itself.
CURRENT RESEARCH STATUS — SELECT PROGRAM FOR FULL DETAIL:
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
POLAR VOLATILIZATION STUDY — PHASE 3
Lead: Dr. Selin Çelik, in coordination with TerraForm Research
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
The south polar cap of Mars contains an estimated 12,000 Gt of
CO2 in dry ice form. Fully volatilized, this would roughly
double current atmospheric pressure. Phase 3 investigates three
complementary volatilization approaches simultaneously.
ACTIVE METHODS
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
METHOD A — TARGETED SUBLIMATION ACTIVE
Orbital mirror array focusing solar energy on south polar cap
sector 7-Alpha. Results to date are consistent with Phase 2
computational models supplied by TF-4.
[] 78%
METHOD B — DARK AEROSOL SEEDING COMPLETE
Dark particulate aerosol applied to polar surface to reduce
albedo and accelerate natural sublimation. Phase results
exceeded targets by 11%. Full report: Archive TR-2025-B-04.
[] 100% — COMPLETE
METHOD C — SUBSURFACE PROBE NETWORK DELAYED
Geothermal probe installation for deep heating of ice-bearing
permafrost. Equipment delivery delayed — DSV STEADFAST is in
scheduled maintenance cycle. Estimated resume: 60 DAYS.
[] 24% — DELAYED
PHASE 3 COMPLETION TARGET ......... SOLS 480–520 (EST)
NEXT REVIEW ........................ TRANS-ORBITAL ENGINEERING
CONFERENCE, CASCADIA, JUNE 2026
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
L1 SHIELD CONSORTIUM — PHASE 2 COMPLETE
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
A multi-agency research consortium investigating the feasibility
of positioning a magnetic deflector array at the Mars-Sun L1
Lagrange point to partially compensate for Mars' absent global
magnetosphere.
Phase 2 modeling confirms that an L1 deflector could reduce
solar wind stripping of a thickened Martian atmosphere by an
estimated 67–74%. This addresses the most fundamental obstacle
to long-term atmospheric retention on Mars.
CONSORTIUM MEMBERS:
· DoJoCo TerraForm Research (co-funder, Phase Lead)
· European Space Agency (ESA)
· University of Cascadia
· 4 contributing TransNational Corporations
PHASE 3 STATUS:
Funding proposals submitted to the Trans-Orbital Science
Foundation. DoJoCo has committed co-funding contingent on
formal consortium formation. Decision expected Q3 2026.
PUBLICATIONS: Phase 2 findings open-access. See DoJoCo
public research portal for full dataset.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
REGOLITH MICROBIOME SEEDING — PHASE 1
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Partnership research with the University of Cascadia and the
Kasei Institute of Xenobiology. Developing cold-tolerant
extremophile microbial strains engineered for Martian regolith
preparation — the first step toward a future where Mars can
sustain complex biological chemistry at the surface level.
PHASE 1 SCOPE:
· Extremophile strain selection and genetic characterization
· Viability testing under controlled interior dome conditions
· Initial regolith substrate trials in sealed test beds at Kasei
· Biosafety containment protocol development
All biological research is conducted under CMA Biosafety
Protocol Class-II containment within the Kasei settlement.
All findings are open-access per DoJoCo's charter commitment
to the scientific community.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ATMOSPHERIC RETENTION MODELING — ONGOING
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Continuous computational simulation of Martian atmospheric
evolution under a range of intervention scenarios including
L1 shielding, polar volatilization, and biological seeding
in combination.
TF-4 provides the primary dataset feeding TF-1 volatilization
calculations and TF-2 shield performance modeling. All long-
range TerraForm Research mission planning draws from TF-4
baseline models.
Model set updated quarterly. Publications available through
the DoJoCo public research portal and the Trans-Orbital
Science Foundation open archive.
NOTE: TF-4 is a permanent, ongoing research program. It has
no scheduled completion date. It ends when Mars breathes.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ORBITAL MIRROR ARRAY — PRE-PROPOSAL
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Concept study for a large-scale orbital mirror network to
deliver solar energy to the Martian surface at significantly
greater scale than TF-1 Method A's single-mirror prototype.
This program is at an early conceptual stage. Advancement to
a formal research proposal is contingent on:
· TF-1 Method A completion and peer review
· TF-2 Phase 3 funding outcomes
· Availability of consortium co-funding partners
Not expected to advance to formal proposal before 2028.
STATUS: Concept only. No active research. No current funding.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
NOTE: TerraForm Research publications are available in the
DoJoCo public archive. All findings are open-access per
our charter commitment to the scientific community.