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First SpaceX Missions To Mars: 'Dangerous and Probably People Will Die' (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the willing-to-take-risks dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: As we get close to the end of September, when Elon Musk has promised to lay bare his plans for colonizing Mars at an international space conference, it seems like the ambitious founder of SpaceX can hardly contain his excitement. In an interview with The Washington Post, Musk gushed, "I'm so tempted to talk more about the details of it. But I have to restrain myself." SpaceX fandom has speculated for years about details of Musk's ideas, which include the Mars Colonial Transporter concept. The Transporter likely consists of a large first stage rocket and an upper stage spacecraft meant to deliver hundreds of people to the surface of Mars during the late 2020s and 2030s. Unlike NASA, which relies on public money and is therefore risk averse when it comes to "loss of crew" requirements for human missions into space, SpaceX appears to be willing to take some risks with the unprecedented exploration to Mars. Those first explorers would understand the perils, just as the pioneers who explored the New World or the poles of Earth did. "Hopefully there's enough people who are like that who are willing to go build the foundation, at great risk, for a Martian city," Musk told Washington Post. "It's dangerous and probably people will die -- and they'll know that." Eventually it will be safe to go to Mars, Musk said, and living there will be comfortable. But this is many years into the future, he acknowledged.

3 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I would ... by pellik · · Score: 5, Funny

    You could be the first to post there, too.

  2. Re:"Probably"? by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 5, Funny

    I want to live long enough to see us do fly-bys over the surface of mars, scaring the locals and then having a radio show written about us.

    once that happens, I can die a happy man.

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    "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  3. perfect candidates by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can we please send the members of congress on the first flight?! I mean come on, what's the worse that could happen?... and please include details. ;)

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    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.