Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, wants to colonize Mars as the possibility of setting up a colony of humans on the red planet has been considered for decades. However, it is a risky venture to get humans up there and a lot of things may go wrong. Knowing the risks of this venture, Musk warns the first humans who will colonize Mars may also end up losing their lives.
Musk also recognizes that it is a dangerous journey and that many lives have been lost in the process of sending humans into space, especially if it is being done for the first time.
"The first journey will be very dangerous, and the risk of fatality will be very high," Musk said at the International Astronautical Congress. "Are you prepared to die? Then you are a candidate for going."
The first rocket tested for Interplanetary Transport System was launched successfully and If everything goes as planned, Musk will be able to launch as many as 100 people on Mars. However, it can take up to 80 days to reach the planet and it is a long time for a lot of things to go wrong. Reaching safely alone is not enough because the risk doesn't fully end until the landing happens.
If all goes well, the rocket could be reused for up to 1,000 times, reducing the cost of transporting people into space significantly. NASA has been struggling with exorbitant costs associated with sending humans to space and must rely on companies like SpaceX to make progress.
This is an elaborate plan to colonize Mars with the first set of humans that will be brought to fruition by Elon Musk and SpaceX CEO does not want to waste any time in achieving this objective, despite the high fatality risk.
