I’ll put millions of people on Mars, says Elon Musk
December 27, 2011 | Source: New Scientist
Mars (credit: NASA)
(Registration required) SpaceX founder Elon Mush says that he can put a human on Mars in 10 to 20 years’ time for $5 billion — or even $2 billion, thanks to the fully reusable rockets he’s determined to build.
Musk wants to put 10,000 people on Mars. “Ultimately … millions.”
He says a reusable version of SpaceX’s newest launch vehicle, the Falcon Heavy, scheduled for testing in early 2013, can deliver a payload of up to 15 tons to Mars at a cost of $100 to $200 per kilogram. That makes his $5 billion humans-to-Mars price tag seem realistic.
Even so, the Falcon Heavy would need to be “heavier” still to carry the minimum 50-ton payload needed for a Mars mission.
Comments (8)
by steve
iq146 Shit man you are more in need of a head job than any person currently alive on the planet.
by anthrobotic
*Mush?¿
First sentence – JSYK.
by IQ146
Dream on all of you fantasists. It’s not going to happen. This guy, along with anyone who thinks ‘makind’s future is in space’ had better start doing a reality check on the environment as it’s crashing and since we depend entirely on it for our survival, like food, duh, we’re going the way of the dinosaur this century and won’t have time to make it off planet. Even if that were possible, which it isn’t since we are puny skin-encapsulated egos and couldn’t survive for long enough in cosmic radiation. So unless he has a plan to lift thousands of tonnes of lead shielding into orbit first, better forget it and pay attention to the damage we’ve wreaked on Earth. Boys and their toys…
by garybirch
Amazing!!! I thought people who read this site had at least some sense of vision, and maybe even some capacity to envision what the world will be like in 10-20 years… maybe for you the Singularity has already happened, since you can’t see beyond the edge of our still limited capabilities. There is a future out their that we can’t even describe yet… and it includes “fixing” our own planet, terraforming and colonizing mars and who knows what else. Put a group of determined people in the right place with the right motivation, tools and technology and we all will be amazed at what can be done!
by Giulio Prisco
I am sure a Mars colony makes a lot of sense in practical terms. But beyond practical considerations, I think colonies on Mars (and on the Moon and other planets) are needed for our mental health as a species. Looking at the stars and thinking that there are people living and working there gives boosts enthusiasm, drive and positive emotions. This is what we had in the 60s and early 70s with the Apollo program. We have lost it and stepped into the 9/11 version of the 21st century. Now, we must go back to the future.
by WhiteRaven
“mars is dead mass..” That is the dumbest statement ever typed. Mars is a world full of minerals, especialy Iron. Asteroids…have far less than mars, becuase they have SMALL mass. Why mine just a small rock in space when you have an entire planet to sample? Mars would make a very good outpost space station, for further exploration of the Solar System.
by DreamShieldAuto
Interesting… mining makes sense…
by Khannea Suntzu
Mars is *hah*, a Red Herring. Everyone with a shred of sense knows he’s after asteroid mining. Mars is dead mass.