Elon Musk, the world’s richest person alive, has sparked controversy once more recently. He said that a SpaceX ticket that costs $100,000 could be affordable for “almost anyone” during an interview with Chris Anderson, head of TED.
Musk’s claims have outraged the internet. Many people have pointed out that the cost of this ticket is quite exaggerated and ambitious, considering the high percentages of poverty in many communities of the world. Recent statistics say that at least 689 million people worldwide live in poverty.
Many have also commented on his ‘sales pitch’ to make life on Mars sound more inviting.
During the interview, the founder and CEO of SpaceX talked about his interest in building a self-sustaining city on Mars. He commented that many people may recur to loans or sponsorships to purchase their tickets, but that not too many humans will be willing to live that long and meaningful journey.
Musk says that this mission may need at least 1 million people to work and live on Mars. He wishes to build a fleet of around 1,000 starships, each of which will deliver around 1000 humans to mars every 2.2 years as the price of the journey becomes more accessible.
In March 2022, Musk said that humans might be able to visit Mars in approximately 2029. He had already talked about the issue previously, as he predicted that such an event would happen earlier, in 2024.
If everything goes as planned, Musk says that his plan of sending fleets to Mars may commence one year later, in 2030. However, it is uncertain whether SpaceX will be able to fulfill its current vision, as it is an extremely ambitious goal.
Still, even if the right date has not been confirmed yet, it is safe to say that the first humans who travel to Mars will not travel in first class.
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