NASA scientists have revealed a new idea that would make Mars habitable in a few years and it involves giving the Red Planet a new magnetic shield. This may sound like something out of a science fiction film, but the space agency recently announced this potential endeavor during a conference.

The idea was announced during the Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop held at the NASA headquarters last week in Washington. NASA is considering developing a new magnetosphere on Mars that can apparently restore its once dense atmosphere and make living on the Red Planet a reality.

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During the history of Mars, a significant amount of water disappeared that was caused by its atmosphere to slowly become thin and tenuous over millions of years. NASA's Planetary Science Division Director James Green announced some crucial details on how the space agency will benefit from this, especially when establishing a human colony and carrying out daily exploration missions.

Green said that launching this magnetic shield within a stable orbit can protect Mars from a barrage of highly energetic solar particles from solar flares and solar storms. This new Martian magnetic shield will consist of a massive dipole that involves a close electric circuit which can generate this powerful, artificial magnetic field to cover the entire planet. This shield will help the Red Planet to slowly recover its lost atmosphere.

This new magnetic shield model also shows that this type of structure can help Mars to develop atmospheric pressure similar found to Earth, in a few years time. This new magnetic shield not only can protect the dry planet from solar winds but it can also trigger a greenhouse effect to generate heat within and melt Martian polar ice caps for water to flow.

Green added that this would mean one-seventh of the ancient ocean on the Red Planet can potentially return to its surface. He also explained that the solar system is out there for humans to explore and this includes Mars.