Elon Musk's global ambition to send humans to Mars could be realized by the end of the decade. But first, he sends robots to scout and prepares the planet.
The tech giants are ambitious. His goal is to send Tesla's humanoid Optimus robot to SpaceX Flight on a SpaceX flight to Mars by the end of 2026.
If everything goes well, humans could be on a rocket ship to Mars as early as 2029, but could be beyond that within two or four years.
Living on Mars?
The curiosity and perseverance of NASA Rovers is already on Mars and is gathering data. They are trying to determine whether the Red Planet can support life.
Musk believes on his part that Mars, which it once came to life, is possible. In a conversation with Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), he said, “We may find the ruins of a long-dead foreign civilization. It is possible. And we may find the life of microorganisms underground. It is possible.”
Because of its human-like structure, Optimus Robots is more capable of collecting data and even buildings than NASA rovers. They can lift and transport materials up to 45 pounds, build habitats, navigate more challenging terrain for bipedal walking, and lay the foundations of agriculture.
Once the robot completes the mission, the mask wants to send a human. This is the next step towards his ultimate goal of colonizing the fourth planet. He said in September:
With the goal of building an independent city in about 20 years, flight rates will grow exponentially from there. Being multifaceted would significantly increase the possible lifespan of consciousness, as it literally does not have all eggs on one planet in a specific way.
In the video below, Musk touches on his colonization goals.
Backup planet
Musk worries about humans who will perish in oblivion without a backup planet for a long time. He believes that colonizing other worlds is not a futile ambition, but is necessary for the survival of our species. He believes that humanity is facing multiple extinction threats. The big asteroid could crash into Earth like a dinosaur and kill humanity. Or, “there are fatal diseases, volcanic eruptions, or other catastrophes that can, as we know, bring about the end of civilization,” he said.
Mask's recent extinction boogeyman was artificial intelligence. He believes he has a fifth of the chance. Speaking at the 2024 rich summit, he said, “I think (AI) could end humanity. I agree with Geoff Hinton that it's about 10% or 20% or something like that.”
Tech Wiz calls AI “devils.” In 2014, he said in a speech at MIT's Aeroastro Centennial Symposium:
In artificial intelligence, you summon demons. You know those stories with guys who have fivegram stars and people who have holy water, and he is like that – yeah, are you sure he can control the devil? It's not going well.
However, despite his fears about AI, Musk believes that AI benefits outweigh the risks. Interestingly, the robot he sends to Mars is qualified as an AI. Tesla unveiled the Optimus robot in October 2024. They were pitched as helpers who do anything. He said, “It can be a teacher, it can be a babysitter for your child. It will walk your dog, mow the lawn, get groceries, just become your friend and serve you drinks.
Ambitious goals
As far as Musk's ambitious 2026 targets are concerned, departing for Mars is not as optimistic as he is. Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, told Newsweek:
A one-way trip to Mars 140 million miles away can take six to nine months. Temperatures between 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Fahrenheit) and -225 degrees Fahrenheit (-153 degrees Fahrenheit) average around -76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mars is becoming the next frontier in space races. In his inauguration speech in January, President Donald Trump vowed, “I have pledged to plant stars and stripes on the planet Mars.” However, under the joint efforts of the European Space Agency, several other countries, including China, Russia, India and the EU countries, are also turning their eyes to Mars.
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