Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, said that his organization would land Starships on Mars before 2030.
HAWTHORNE-CA-MAY 29: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk unveils the company's new manned spacecraft, The Dragon V2, designed to carry astronauts into space during a news conference on May 29, 2014, in Hawthorne, California. The private spaceflight company has been flying unmanned capsules to the Space Station delivering cargo for the past two years. The Dragon V2 manned spacecraft will ferry up to seven astronauts to low-Earth orbit.
Musk's remark came in response to a tweet on his timeline that contained an article about how Europe was concerned about SpaceX's success.
"SpaceX will be landing Starships on Mars well before 2030. The really hard threshold is making Mars Base Alpha self-sustaining," Musk tweeted.
SpaceX will be landing Starships on Mars well before 2030. The really hard threshold is making Mars Base Alpha self-sustaining.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 23, 2021
Musk's ambitious target of landing humans on Mars by 2030 is in line with one of the first proposals he set out for the Red Planet's landing in 2016.
What About Europe?
In response to an Ars Technica article that Europe will only begin to research competitor technologies from 2030, the Tesla executive said SpaceX would be landing rockets and building a base on Mars "way before" Europe considers developing competitive rocketry.
Musk said per Forbes that Europe must strive for greater heights of rocket science or face being outdated. At the same time, the organization begins to outcompete European firms.
Although the government frequently funds EU-wide and member state-space activities, they are likely to draw commercial customers until they are operational.
SpaceX has eaten into Europe's market share in a couple of years by reducing prices with recycled rockets. Meanwhile, amid attempts to catch up, the bloc remains behind.
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Should We Focus On Earth? Here's What Authorities Told Musk
Musk is a vocal supporter of relocating humans to other worlds. He announced a proposal to create a Martian city in "our lifetimes" in 2016. However, he warned that early colonists should be "prepared to die."
Given the high prices of single-use ships, SpaceX's recycled rocketry is a huge part of making the vision a fact. Musk's Martian dreams have not all been well received. Lord Martin Rees, the Royal Astronomer of the United Kingdom, recently labeled in a SkyNews article that Musk's aspirations as a "dangerous illusion."
Senator Bernie Sanders also questioned Musk's emphasis on settling other planets considering the problems we face here on Earth. Before looking to Mars, he said, "we need to focus on Earth."
Space travel is an exciting idea, but right now we need to focus on Earth and create a progressive tax system so that children don't go hungry, people are not homeless and all Americans have healthcare. The level of inequality in America is obscene and a threat to our democracy. https://t.co/CbMWYnPFUx
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 21, 2021
What Is SpaceX Starship Spacecraft?
The Space X Starship spacecraft is a stainless steel spacecraft that the company is developing. It is a two-stage-to-orbit super high-lift launch vehicle that will consist of two stages.
One will be the booster stage, called Super Heavy, and the second will be the Starship stage. SpaceX plans to build long-duration cargos in the second stage, which will potentially include passenger-carrying spacecraft.
Engine construction began in 2012, with the second stage beginning in 2016 and the second stage's testing beginning in 2019. The Starship, which is being built in Boca Chica, Texas, took to the skies for the first time in March 2020 when its prototype SN8 flew at altitude for the first time.
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