dietz%usc-cse%USC-ECL%SRI-NIC@sri-unix.UUCP (12/28/83)
(.6)G(m^2)/r; for Venus this is on the order of 2x10^39 joules. This is the energy equivalent of about 3.3x10^18 kg of matter. Assuming Venus started with an ocean 1 km deep covering the entire surface there will be on the order of 10^16 kg of deuterium in the atmosphere; fusion reactions will convert only a small fraction of this mass to energy, and most of that energy will be radiated away. Will Venus have an atmosphere afterwards? Probably not. On the other hand, the upper crust of Venus would probably be severely fractured; seismic waves could deposit lots of energy inside the planet. Expect massive volcanism and outgassing. With luck, lots of hydrogen will be emitted, saving the terraformers the trouble of importing ice from comets.