SpaceX, the pioneer in privatized space missions, is currently planning on sending manned space ships to Mars within the next 10 to 20 years. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, claimed they will send people in space in lest than 3 years, and has colonization in the company’s long term goals.
“I want SpaceX to help make life multi-planetary,” he said. “We’re going all the way to Mars, I think. Best case, 10 years, worst case, 15 to 20 years.”
The young entrepreneur, best known for co-founding PayPal and Tesla Motors, went on to clarify that SpaceX had no political interest in expanding human interest to other planets, but rather aims to serve as simply a transportation provider. “We want to be like the shipping company that brought people from Europe to America, or like the Union Pacific railroad.” said Musk. ” Our goal is to facilitate the transfer of people and cargo to other planets, and then it’s going to be up to people if they want to go,”
While this goal is certainly ambitious, many critics have said it cannot be achieved in the set timeline, Elon is generating excitement (and jobs) in a field that has remained stagnant for many years. Whether or not he makes it to Mars, he is sure to be on the forefront of innovation in space travel.
