A public disagreement between Elon Musk and Neil deGrasse Tyson has shed light on the challenges and ambitions of sending people to Mars.
The Dispute
Tyson, an American astrophysicist, expressed his skepticism about Musk’s ambitions to send people to Mars, stating that without a geopolitical push, it would not be possible as a pure exploration project. He emphasized that large, expensive projects only receive funding when they are geopolitically expedient.
Tyson’s Concerns
Tyson questioned the feasibility of investing in the Starship project, citing its high costs and low return on investment. He also expressed concerns about the venture capitalist meeting where Musk would have to present his proposal.
“For him to just say, let’s go to Mars because it’s the next thing to do. What is that venture capitalist meeting look like? ‘So, Elon, what do you want to do?’ ‘I want to go to Mars.’ ‘How much will it cost?’ ‘$1 trillion.’ ‘Is it safe?’ ‘No. People will probably die.’ ‘What’s the return on the investment?’ ‘Nothing.’ That’s a five-minute meeting. And it doesn’t happen.”
Musk’s Response
Musk dismissed Tyson’s concerns, stating that Mars is critical to the long-term survival of consciousness.
“Wow, they really don’t get it. Mars is critical to the long-term survival of consciousness. Also, I’m not going to ask any venture capitalists for money. I realize that it makes no sense as an investment. That’s why I’m gathering resources.”
Alternative Priorities
Tyson suggested that instead of developing Mars to be liveable once Earth becomes unlivable, it would be better to invest in Earth itself.
SpaceX’s Progress
SpaceX is currently developing the Starship launch vehicle, which is in the testing phase. The company has conducted six test flights of the vehicle to date, but without a payload. Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President and COO, expressed optimism about the future of the project.
“I would not be surprised if we fly 400 Starship launches in the next four years,”
Shotwell also mentioned that SpaceX is expected to make some money on Starlink this year, but ultimately, Starship will be what takes the company over the top as one of the most valuable companies.