For over two decades, Elon Musk has driven SpaceX with the singular mission of reaching Mars. Recently, he has shifted focus toward the intricate details of establishing a self-sustaining Martian city.
As you might imagine, sending 1 million people to another planet is not a simple mission. That is why this article delves into Musk's plans, challenges, and the steps SpaceX is taking to make life on Mars a reality.
Mars City Design And Habitats
Elon Musk, now 53, has instructed SpaceX teams to delve into the design of Martian cityscapes.
Planning includes small dome habitats to shelter humans from harsh conditions and developing specialized spacesuits to combat Mars' extreme weather. A dedicated medical team is researching human reproduction on Mars, with Musk, as insiders reveal, even offering his sperm for the cause.
Initially estimating a 40 to 100-year timeline for a self-sustaining civilization on Mars, Musk now predicts one million people living there within 20 years. "There's high urgency to making life multi-planetary," he stated, emphasizing the need to act while civilization is strong.
Mars: A Hostile Environment
Mars presents numerous challenges, such as a barren landscape and frigid temperatures. Without significant technological advancements, the planet would be uninhabitable. Other challenges are dust storms and unbreathable air, which further complicate human survival.
Skeptics argue that landing a million people on Mars would take decades. Robert Zubrin, an advocate for Mars colonization, notes Musk could be spread too thin across various ventures.
The Business Influence
Although some criticize the ambition, Musk's Mars vision influences his various business ventures, such as:
- The Boring Company: Founded to develop tunneling equipment for Mars.
- Tesla Cybertrucks: Envisioned as the primary mode of transport on Mars.
- Starship: A nearly 400-foot reusable rocket developed for lunar missions but adaptable for Mars.
Musk's substantial net worth, around $270 billion, supports these plans. He testified in court that his $47 billion Tesla pay package aims to fund Mars colonization.
SpaceX has made strides with Starship developing partly reusable rockets and securing NASA contracts. They also conducted successful test flights from SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas facility.
In 2018, SpaceX engineers and university researchers met to discuss Mars survival technology, covering ice harvesting for water supply and colony location by identifying the best spots for settlement.
Internal Efforts And Employee Engagement
SpaceX's industrial design team has been updating renderings for a futuristic Mars city, including massive domes central to the design for communal living and discussions on the best materials to use.
Many SpaceX employees share Musk's vision, working over 100 hours weekly and sporting slogans like "Occupy Mars." Despite challenges, including lawsuits and work conditions, the drive to be part of creating a Mars colony remains strong.
