Space agencies all over the world are working on plans to colonize the Red Planet Mars, and Elon Musk is no exception. He has explained the necessity of having a human settlement on the distant planet. His logic is simple – in case of a World War, chances of survival of mankind would be slim. Hence, man must settle on the moon or Mars before it is too late.
The New Zealand Herald reports that SpaceX CEO made these observations during a question-and-answer session at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference in Texas. In his opinion, the focus should be to ensure that human civilization does not become extinct in case of a war.
This can be achieved through colonization of Mars.
Elon Musk is a visionary
He is an entrepreneur and the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. The former has revolutionized the concept of reusable rockets to economize on the cost of rocket launches and has been contracted by NASA to undertake supply missions to the International Space Station. Tesla is deeply involved in its mission to usher in the electric vehicles and tackle the threat of global warming. Elon Musk is now concentrating on colonization of Mars.
A self-sustaining human base on the distant planet could survive in case of a war on Earth compared to a base on the moon. In the worst case scenario, such a remote outpost would help to sustain the human population.
The world is witnessing a regular tussle between US President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. They are expected to meet, and nuclear weapons will feature in the talks.
Future plans to colonize Mars
NASA plans to send humans to Mars in the 2030s, while Elon Musk plans to launch the first cargo ships to the planet by 2022.
He made this claim during an appearance in a program in Adelaide. Critics have termed these as highly ambitious, but SpaceX is forging ahead. It has conducted a successful test flight of the Falcon Heavy which is the world's most powerful rocket and has also launched a red Tesla Roadster car towards an orbit near Mars.
The Huffington Post adds that NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars in the 2030 to 2040 period.
It will be a one-way mission, and its purpose will be colonization of the Red Planet. It would mean not just sending the astronauts but also whatever is required for establishing a self-sustaining colony.
According to CS Monitor, four men and two women selected by NASA have undergone eight-month training in specially designed compartments that have recreated a Martian environment. The location was in Hawaii below the summit of Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano.
