SpaceX’s Elon Musk has expressed his support for actor William Shatner’s proposal to reinstate Pluto’s status as a planet. Shatner, famous for his role as Captain Kirk, shared this idea on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
In a tweet, Shatner suggested that Musk should encourage the President to issue an executive order to redefine Pluto as a planet. Musk, who has recently changed his username to Kekius Maximus, replied simply with, “I support it.”
This exchange quickly gained traction online, with numerous users echoing Shatner’s sentiments. One user remarked that it’s a fantastic idea and should be acted upon promptly.
Another person noted that this would fulfill a significant desire for Starfleet. Others chimed in, expressing their affection for Pluto, stating that calling it anything less than a planet feels almost discriminatory.
A different user weighed in, suggesting that Pluto still qualifies as a planet but adds further complexity to its classification—akin to calling small humans ‘not human.’
Currently, Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet due to not fitting all criteria established by the International Astronomical Union. According to NASA, for an object to be defined as a planet, it must orbit the Sun, possess a certain mass to ensure its gravity shapes it into a sphere, and clear its orbit of other debris. In 2006, Pluto was reclassified due to its relatively small size.
