SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is preparing to send Starship to Mars within the next few years.
Musk made the announcement in a post on X on Saturday. write“The first spacecraft to Mars is scheduled to launch in two years' time, when the next transfer period between Earth and Mars opens.”
He added:
These are unmanned vehicles that will test whether they can land on Mars intact. If the landing goes well, the first manned flights to Mars will come in four years. From there, flight rates will increase exponentially, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city on the red planet in about 20 years.
Having multiple planets would likely greatly extend the lifespan of consciousness, as literally and metabolically all of the eggs would no longer be on one planet.
Social media users responded to his post with their thoughts and questions. Written“I'm curious why humans are sent to Mars first. Why not just send an army of robots to build the infrastructure needed for habitation?”
“What a great time to be alive!” another user said. Commented.
In May, Musk predicted that a human city could be built on Mars within 30 years, Breitbart News reported.
Musk said an unmanned Mars mission could be accomplished within five years, and a human landing on Mars could be possible within 10. He further predicted that a city could be built on Mars within 20 years, and that within 30 years the future of human civilization outside of Earth could be secure.
…
While many seem excited about the possibility of a Martian city, it's important to note that Musk has a history of presenting highly unrealistic timelines.
…
SpaceX, which Musk founded in 2002, was the first private company to develop a liquid-fueled rocket that successfully reached orbit, and the first to send a spacecraft and astronauts to the International Space Station, but it's important to note that SpaceX has never taken humans out of low Earth orbit.
In a July interview, Musk said said He believes a small percentage of our economy should be allocated to “the expansion of life beyond Earth and ultimately to other star systems.”
