Elon Musk Wants You To Colonize Mars | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Elon Musk Wants You To Colonize Mars

But seriously, he does.

16
Elon Musk Wants You To Colonize Mars
Business Insider

"It's a little cold on Mars, but we can warm it up."

The quote above is from Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and founder of SpaceX, who proposed a plan to send a million people to Mars at the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico last weekend.

The infamous billionaire outlined a complete "to-do" list for the project during his 63-minute speech, covering everything from the infrastructure of the rocket to what the job market would look like on Mars.

Why would we ever want to leave Earth, you ask? Well, according to Musk, we either must accept the end of humanity here on Earth (as history has shown that doomsday will eventually happen) or ship our most productive folk off to Mars and restart. The entire SpaceX project, in fact, is committed to finding ways of making us a "multi-planet species".

The plan, I must admit, is quite spectacular. The rocket SpaceX would use for the journey was proposed to be reusable, meaning that after it launches those one million adrenaline-junkies and/or extreme introverts into space, it will be programmed to return to the launch pad. Musk claims that "recycling a rocket over and over and learning to fly it like a plane could reduce the cost of access to space by as much as a factor of a hundred."

Additionally, Musk presented that Mars' atmosphere can be compressed, which would eventually create oceans and a thick atmosphere. The only thing that would really change would be the force of gravity, as a person who weighs 100 lbs on Earth would weigh about 37 lbs on Mars. Easiest weight loss plan EVER!

As for the population who would be living there, they would have an entire planet all to themselves. Can you imagine?

But we have to ask ourselves, is it a good idea to colonize Mars? I mean, somehow we came to be on Earth and were given everything we need. Our ecosystems work with intense precision to keep everything in existence. One has to worry that the attempt to manufacture that natural precision may result in disaster, and a loss of a million of our own. After all, we are talking about allowing the CEO who made the self-driving car that malfunctioned and killed a man, even after countless tests. Is it safe to let him also design a rocket that would take us to another planet?

We're talking about a new level of homesickness. I don't think I could ever leave the splendor of Earth, and I feel there is something wrong about abandoning a planet that has done nothing but put up with our s***. All I know is if we are really going to use Mars as a "backup" for the human race, they'd better have Wi-Fi.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

204
11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

As a college student, being a nanny over the summer is both enjoyable and challenging. Underneath the seemingly perfect trips to the pool or countless hours spent playing Monopoly are the obstacles that only nannies will understand. Trading in your valuable summer vacation in return for three months spent with a few children less than half your age may seem unappealing, but so many moments make it rewarding. For my fellow summer nannies out there, I know you can relate.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl

If it hurts now, it'll hurt again. Not because you're gullible or naive, only because you fall fast, hard, and you do it every time.

We fall each and every time with the complete and utter confidence that someone will be there to catch us. Now that person we SWORE we were never going to fall for has our hearts, and every time we see them our palms start sweating. The butterflies in our stomach start to soar and our hearts are entirely too close to bursting out of our chests.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Things Only Equestrians Understand

Yes, it IS a sport. Yes, I fall all the time. No, I do not ride in jeans with a cowgirl hat on.

683
horses
Barn Pros

Growing up I have always wanted to own a horse. My grandparents own a well known equestrian facility in Georgia, so I have been riding since I was born. A bond between a person and their horse is a bond so strong that it cannot be broken. Everywhere I went I wanted to be around horses, even forcing my family to go on trail rides during vacations. Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember has taught me great responsibility, as well as 14 things that all equestrians can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
man wearing white top using MacBook
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

College is super hard. Between working, studying, and having a social life, it feels like a struggle to just keep afloat.

I understand. When you feel like your drowning and there's no way to stay afloat I understand that it feels like everyone else is doing just fine. I understand all the frustration, long nights in the library, and that feeling that you want to just throw in the towel. I understand that sometimes it's too hard to get out of bed because your brain is already filled with too much information to remember. I understand because I am also feeling pretty burnt out.

Keep Reading...Show less
No Matter How Challenging School Gets, You Have To Put Your Health First — A Degree Won't Mean Anything If You're Dead
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Some of the best advice I've ever received was from my social studies teacher in sophomore year of high school. He stated, "If you don't know it at midnight, you're not going to know it for the 8 a.m. exam, so get some sleep."

It's such a simple piece of advice, but it holds so much accuracy and it's something that the majority of college students need to hear and listen to. "All-nighters" are a commonality on college campuses in order to cram in studying for an exam that is typically the next day.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments