The holy grail is helping make life multi-planetary. Mars is the only realistic other planet; even going from one planet to two is a big step.
"help make life multi-planetary"
Why go to Mars / what is SpaceX's mission?
Q5258 answers2007-2026view changed
Short answer
As civilization expands into space, most of the work is digital thinking rather than shaping atoms; he wants to build digital superintelligence and a sentient sun to understand the universe.
How his answer changed: 2023-2025: Mars as a backup/second planet to preserve (human) civilization. From 2026 (Dwarkesh, Economist) the framing is maximizing the light cone of consciousness and intelligence, much of it AI, with the Moon gaining prominence (mass driver, orbital AI) alongside Mars.
All 258 answers, oldest to newest
2007 · 1 answer
2009 · 2 answers
In college one interest was space travel, extending life beyond Earth and making life multiplanetary; those were the areas he thought would most affect humanity, not a career plan.
"the extension of life beyond Earth to making life multiplanetary"
In college three areas seemed most likely to affect the future: the internet, the transition to sustainable energy and transportation, and space exploration — in particular the extension of life to multiple planets.
"the extension of life to multiple planets"
2011 · 4 answers
He said this is the first time in Earth's 4 billion years it has been possible for life to become multiplanetary.
"this is the first time in the 4 billion year history of Earth that it's been possible"
He said a future out exploring the stars is much more exciting and inspiring than one forever confined to Earth.
"It's just a much more exciting, inspiring future if we're out there exploring the stars as opposed to a future where we are forever confined to Earth."
He said he went to the NASA website and found no plan to go to Mars.
"And I went to the NASA website and there was no plan to go Mars"
He said the pivotal breakthrough needed is a fully and rapidly reusable orbit-class rocket.
"some company has to come up with to to make life multiplanetary is a fully and rapidly reusable orbit class rocket"
2012 · 5 answers
Humanity should become a multi-planet species; a spacefaring future is inspiring compared with being forever confined to Earth until some eventual extinction event. That is why he started SpaceX.
"humanity become a multi-planet species"
Says a Mars base would ensure the continuance of life and be the most exciting adventure ever.
"Besides ensuring the continuance of life, creating a base on Mars would be the most exciting adventure ever!"
He said even if things are 99% likely fine on Earth, a 1% chance is worth a fair bit of effort to back up the biosphere.
"even if it's sort of 99% likely, a 1% chance, it's still worth spending a fair bit of effort"
In college he asked what would most affect the future of humanity: the internet, sustainable energy (SolarCity production, Tesla consumption), and space exploration — specifically making life multiplanetary.
"making life multiplanetary"
Says becoming multi-planet means moving millions of people to Mars.
"if humanity wishes to become a multi-planet species, then we must figure out how to move millions of people to Mars."
2013 · 12 answers
As a student he picked the internet, sustainable energy, and space exploration / making life multiplanetary as what would most affect the world.
"internet um sustainable energy and and uh space exploration making life multiplanetary"
There is a fundamental difference between a space-faring civilization exploring the stars on multiple planets and one forever confined to Earth until some eventual extinction event.
"forever confined to Earth until some eventual extinction event"
Become a true spacefaring civilization and multiplanet species. If we do not take those paths, future history is really very different; eventually something on Earth would eliminate civilization as we know it.
"become a true spacefaring civilization of multiplanet species"
After trying to buy Russian ICBMs he concluded the US had the will to explore if the cost was palatable; the missing piece was a cheaper way.
"it's not a question of will it's a question of way"
He said it is perhaps at least as important as life going from the oceans to land.
"I think it's perhaps at least as important life going from the oceans to land."
Along with the internet and sustainable energy, he listed humanity becoming a multiplanet species: a space-faring civilization or confined to Earth until some eventual extinction.
"Humanity becoming a multiplet species"
In college he asked which areas would most affect the future of humanity: the internet, sustainable energy, and space exploration, particularly becoming multi-planet.
"the three areas were the internet, sustainable energy, and space exploration"
SpaceX exists to improve rocket and spacecraft technology until people can be sent to Mars and a self-sustaining base established, making life multiplanetary.
"establish a self-sustaining base on Mars"
He said SpaceX's overarching goal is technologies enabling a permanent, self-sustaining city on Mars.
"Well, the overarching goal of SpaceX is to develop technologies that will enable the establishment of a permanent city on Mars"
The three areas he was sure about were sustainable energy, the internet, and making life multiplanetary; AI and rewriting genetics were question marks.
"sustainable energy, internet, and making life multiplanetary"
He said history bifurcates: either we are a multiplanet species exploring the stars, or a single-planet species awaiting extinction.
"history fundamentally bifurcates in one of two directions. Either we are a multi planet species and out there exploring the stars, or we are a single planet species waiting around"
He first thought the US had lost the will to explore; he later concluded people need a feasible way that will not bankrupt the country.
"I mistakenly thought that uh the reason that we had not sent people to Ms was because we' lost the will to explore"
2014 · 8 answers
He would love SpaceX to be the company that brings humanity to Mars, and to see it while he is still alive.
"I'd love to have SpaceX be the company that brings humanity to Mars"
SpaceX was founded to make radical improvements to space-transport technology, particularly reliability, safety and affordability.
"SpaceX was founded to make radical improvements to space transport technology"
He wanted to see humanity go beyond Earth with people on Mars, plus widespread electric vehicles and renewable energy.
"see humanity go beyond Earth and have people on Mars"
It is a much more exciting, inspiring future if we are out there exploring the stars rather than forever confined to Earth. He wondered when NASA was going to Mars.
"It's just a much more exciting, inspiring future if we're out there exploring the stars as opposed to a future where we are forever confined to Earth"
He went to the NASA website and there was no plan to go to Mars and no plan to really even take the next step in space exploration.
"I went to the NASA website and there was no plan to go to Mars"
Becoming multiplanetary is life insurance for life as a whole, so the light of consciousness propagates into the future, using a small share of economic output.
"it's life insurance for Life as a whole"
The wise move is to do it now: the window of technology is open for the first time in the four-and-a-half-billion-year history of Earth, and it may close.
"the first time that window has been open in the four and a half billion year history of Earth"
Primary focus should be problems on Earth, but for 1% of our resources we could buy life insurance for life collectively.
"for 1% of our resources, we could buy life insurance for life collectively"
2015 · 11 answers
He said the goal is to enable large numbers of people and cargo to go to Mars, so humanity becomes a spacefaring, multiplanetary civilization.
"I want to enable I want to enable uh large numbers of people in cargo to go to Mars so it's not sort of about me personally"
A future exploring the stars is more inspiring than being confined to Earth; the next generation of rockets should let people move to Mars for about $500,000 with a free return ticket.
"enable people to move to Mars for approximately half a million dollars"
The overarching goal of SpaceX is to advance space-transport technology so space travel can become commonplace and large numbers of people and cargo can go to other planets.
"the overarching goal of SpaceX is to try to advance the state of space transport"
A future as a spacefaring civilization and a multi-planet species is exciting and inspiring. Getting there means dramatically improving the cost of spaceflight, which is why SpaceX exists.
"a future where we're a spacefaring civilization and a multi planet species is a very exciting, inspiring, awesome future"
A Mars civilization is a life-insurance policy for life collectively: become a multiplanet species, not forever confined to one planet waiting for an extinction event.
"a life insurance policy for Life collectively"
In college he asked which things would most affect the future of humanity at a macro level, including the internet, sustainable energy and becoming multi-planetary.
"when I was in college I just thought well what are the things that are most likely to affect the future of humanity"
The things that would affect the future: the internet, sustainable energy production and consumption, and making life multi-planetary, plus genetics and AI in the abstract.
"making life multi-planetary"
In college the five things that would most affect humanity were the internet, sustainable energy, extending life beyond Earth, AI, and rewriting human genetics.
"the extension of life beyond Earth on a permanent basis"
Understanding of the universe grows with the scope of civilization, and civilization's probable lifespan is much greater as a multiplanetary species. This is the first time in Earth's history the window is open to extend life to another planet. The wise move is to make life multiplanetary while we can.
"make life multiplanetary while we can"
We should do both. His ideology is split between sustainable energy on Earth and advancing space technology to establish a self-sustaining city on Mars. The overarching goal is to minimize existential risk.
"well I think we should do both"
He said a Falcon 9 costs about $60 million to build but propellant only about $200,000, so the long-term potential cost reduction is probably more than a factor of 100.
"the potential cost reduction over the long term is probably in excess of a factor of 100"
2016 · 7 answers
Defensive reason: protect humanity so the light of consciousness is not extinguished if calamity befalls Earth. Personally he is more excited that it would be the greatest adventure ever.
"the light of consciousness is not extinguised"
Another step towards the stars. To open up access to space we have to achieve full and rapid reusability of the primary booster. It will take a few years to make it smooth, but it is proven it can work. Full rapid reusability is fundamental.
"we've got to achieve full and rapid reusability"
Reusability is as fundamental in rocketry as in cars or planes. Propellant is about $200–300k; the rocket is $60 million. A fully and rapidly reused rocket is on the order of a 100-fold reduction in marginal cost.
"100 fold cost reduction"
Some aspects of the stage would have no meaningful life limit — you could probably do them a thousand missions. Almost everything on the stage would be good for 10 or 20, and with minor refurbishment you could get to 100.
"you could probably do them a thousand missions"
First NASA astronaut test flights hopefully toward the end of next year. Unmanned Dragon 2 first, then crew. It could be as soon as next year that they do the first crewed spaceflight.
"it could be as soon as next year that we do the for the first crewed spaceflight"
He and Bezos both think it is important for the future to be a spacefaring civilization, ultimately among the stars, a multi-planet species.
"it's important for the future to be a spacefaring civilization"
The question is how to take people to Mars and create a self-sustaining city that can become a planet in its own right.
"how do we figure out how to take you to Mars and create a self-sustaining city, a city that is not really an outpost but can become a planet in its own right"
2017 · 7 answers
Humanity should be a multi-planetary species out among the stars. That is important for long-term survival — kind of like life insurance for life collectively — and it creates a sense of adventure.
"be a multi-planetary species"
The critical breakthrough in spaceflight is rapid, complete reusability of rockets, as with aircraft. A $60 million rocket used a thousand times is $60,000 of capital cost. He is confident you can do a fully reusable rocket.
"I'm confident that you can do a fully reusable rocket"
Becoming a multiplanet species and space-faring civilization is not inevitable, unlike a sustainable energy future; the space trend after Apollo was down.
"becoming a multiplanet species and space-faring civilization"
He said it is important to have a future that is inspiring and appealing.
"I think it's important to have a future that is inspiring and appealing"
The key was how to pay for going to Mars. If they downsize the Mars vehicle so it can also do Earth-orbit activity, they might pay for it with Earth-orbit work. He thought this version had a shot at being real.
"maybe we could pay for it with by using it for Earth orbit activity"
SpaceX is about helping make life multiplanetary, continuing the dream of Apollo, and contributing to life becoming multiplanetary. He framed Americans as a nation of explorers who gave up the known for the unknown.
"helping make life multiplanetary"
Says it is high time humanity went beyond Earth: there should already be a Moon base and astronauts sent to Mars.
"It is high time that humanity went beyond Earth. Should have a moon base by now and sent astronauts to Mars. The future needs to inspire."
2018 · 6 answers
He said Falcon Heavy could send people back to the Moon if you did a bunch of launches with orbital refilling, though he would not recommend that: the new architecture (BFR) is the way to go.
"you could send people back to the moon"
Jokes that you can’t show up at Mars in something the size of a rowboat.
"You can’t show up at Mars in something the size of a rowboat. What if there are Martians? It would be so embarrassing."
On a longer time scale: extending life beyond Earth and making life multiplanetary, in the spirit of Asimov's Foundation.
"extending life beyond Earth making life multiplanetary"
Says life cannot just be about solving sad problems; there need to be things that inspire people.
"Life cannot just be about solving one sad problem after another. There need to be things that inspire you, that make you glad to wake up in the morning and be part of humanity. That is why we did it."
Says BFR will take over from Falcon, with the goal of enabling anyone to move to the Moon, Mars and the outer planets.
"Then BFR takes over & Falcon retires. Goal of BFR is to enable anyone to move to moon, Mars & eventually outer planets."
The window of opportunity may be open a long time or a short time; they should not assume it stays open, and should become a multi-planet civilization as soon as possible.
"that window of opportunity may be open for a long time or it may be open for a short time but we should not assume that it is open for a long time we should take action and become a multi planet civilization as soon as possible"
2019 · 14 answers
The critical point for Starship/BFR: more payload than the biggest rocket ever made, for less money per launch than the smallest orbital rocket; without ~100X lower orbital cost, humanity will never be multiplanet.
"Exactly. That’s the critical point for Starship/BFR: more payload than the biggest rocket ever made, but for less money per launch than the smallest (orbital) rocket. Without something that lowers orbital flight cost by 100X, humanity will never be a multiplanet species."
He said originally he was not going to start a rocket company. He really wanted us to become a spacefaring civilization. He wanted a philanthropic greenhouse on Mars to inspire the public so they would tell Congress to appropriate more money for NASA. His initial goal was to increase NASA's budget.
"i really wanted us to just become a spacefaring civilization"
He said reusability is fundamental. A fully reusable vehicle will cost a hundred times less per flight than an expendable one. Every other mode of transport is reusable; the weird one is space. It needs to be fully and rapidly reusable — that is the breakthrough for humanity to become multiplanetary.
"fully reusable vehicle uh will cost a hundred times less per flight than an expandable vehicle"
He said he actually doesn't care at all about money. He does care about us becoming a spacefaring civilization, and if we don't achieve full and rapid reusability it will not happen. That is the only reason he wants money at all.
"i actually don't care at all about money at all"
He thanked NASA: SpaceX would not be here without NASA, without the work done before SpaceX started and the support after it did.
"SpaceX would not be here without NASA"
He said he really believes in the future of space and it is important that we become a spacefaring civilization. He wants the things in science fiction novels and movies to be real one day.
"we become a space faring civilization"
The whole goal of SpaceX was crewed spaceflight. The company's full name is Space Exploration Technologies: improve space exploration technology to help make humanity a spacefaring civilization. After 17 years they still hadn't launched anyone; he hoped they would later that year.
"the whole goal of spacex was a crude space flight"
He said humanity landing on the Moon was maybe the greatest thing ever, and he could not believe they were launching from that pad.
"humanity landing on the moon man that was maybe the greatest thing ever"
He said we should have a permanently occupied human base on the Moon and send people to Mars and build a city on Mars.
"we should have a base on the moon like a permanently occupied human base on the moon"
After sustainable energy, he said we want to be a multi-planet species — rockets.
"multi-planet species"
He said it is important to take the set of actions most likely to continue consciousness into the future. One of those is to become a multi-planet species, not as an escape hatch or because Earth is doomed, but because there is an irreducible probability something happens to Earth.
"take the set of actions that are most likely to continue consciousness into the future"
He said he is very pro-Earth. From a resource standpoint, less than 1% of Earth's resources should be dedicated to making life multiplanetary — somewhere between lipstick and healthcare, maybe half a percent to 1% of Earth GDP.
"less than 1% of Earth's resources should be dedicated to making life multiplanetary"
Travel to Mars is only just possible given Earth's gravity; a little more g and it would not work. He also read Carl Sagan's pale blue dot passage.
"It's only just possible to travel to Mars"
With respect to space he said there is really one problem: a fully and rapidly reusable orbital rocket. That is the holy grail. Bicycles, aircraft, cars and horses are all reusable; rockets still mostly are not.
"a fully and rapidly reusable rocket"
2020 · 8 answers
Establishing a base on the Moon or Mars takes a tremendous amount of work to make it self-sustaining. Once the transportation problem is solved, many things are possible, like the Union Pacific Railroad opening the West Coast.
"establishing a base on the moon or base on Mars uh there's just a tremendous amount of work work that's needed to create a self-sustaining base"
The whole purpose of SpaceX is to help make life multiplanetary. Satellite-launch revenue is a way to fund that; broadband is a much larger market.
"the whole purpose of SpaceX is really to help make life multiplanetary"
He said designing a house in obsessive detail is less important than allocating that time to getting people to Mars.
"getting us to mars i should probably do the latter"
He said this is hopefully the first step on a journey toward a civilization on Mars, life becoming multiplanetary for the first time in Earth's 4.5 billion year history. SpaceX's fundamental goal is the technologies to make life sustainably multiplanetary.
"this is hopefully the first step on a journey towards a civilization on on Mars"
He said human spaceflight was always the fundamental goal of SpaceX.
"Human space flight was always the goal, the fundamental goal of SpaceX."
He said humanity should be on track to become a multi-planetary species and a space-faring civilization, to find out what the universe is about and keep consciousness going.
"we want to be on track to become a multi-planetary species"
Says Starship is designed to make life multiplanetary.
"It’s designed to make life multiplanetary, otherwise extreme overkill for mere Earth sector activity!"
He is mostly concerned with technology that enables a lot of people to go to Mars and make life multi-planetary: a base on the Moon and a self-sustaining city on Mars, as life insurance for life as a whole.
"make life multi-planetary"
2021 · 15 answers
He says the test is whether Mars dies out if the supply ships from Earth stop, since missing even one small ingredient would be fatal.
"if the ships stop coming from Mars, does Mars die out or not? And Mars only has to be missing one little ingredient, like the equivalent of vitamin C."
He says making propellant from Martian CO2 and water ice is the last piece needed for a self-sustaining city on Mars.
"if you have those elements, life can become multi planetary and we can have a self sustaining city on Mars."
He says we should assume the window to become multiplanetary may be open only briefly and take advantage of it.
"I'm an optimist, not a pessimist. But you have to say there's some chance it's only open for a short time."
He notes ancient Egyptians forgot how to build pyramids and read hieroglyphics.
"the people living there forgot how to build pyramids after a while and then they forgot how to read hieroglyphics."
He says we almost have an obligation to ensure the creatures of Earth continue.
"I think we almost have an obligation to ensure that the creatures of Earth continue."
He calls making life multiplanetary one of the most important things for the long-term existence of consciousness.
"Which I think is one of the most important things we could possibly do for ensuring the long term existence of consciousness."
We are trying to make life multi-planetary, extend life beyond Earth, which takes high tonnage to Mars and a big rocket flown a lot.
"make life multi-planetary"
He said humanity must become a multiplanetary spacefaring civilization.
"I believe that humanity must become a multi planetary space faring civilization."
At heart it is an optimization of cost per ton to orbit, then cost per ton to the surface of Mars, to afford becoming a multiplanetary species (captions: multiplanar).
"it is a fundamentally an optimization of cost per ton to orbit and then ultimately cost per ton to the surface of Mars."
The overarching optimization is the fastest time to a city on Mars, then a fully reusable rocket, then orbit.
"The overarching optimization is what is the fastest time to a city on Mars"
Starship is for going to Mars and a civilization on Mars. The Moon is close so they might as well do a moon base first.
"civilization on mars"
Starship is meant to be the first fully and rapidly reusable rocket, the holy grail of rocketry. If you have that, the cost of a ton to orbit drops by about two orders of magnitude.
"that's the really the holy grail of rocketry"
Says Starship is designed to extend life to Mars, requiring ~1000x more payload to orbit than all current rockets.
"The magnitude of the Starship program is not widely appreciated. It is designed to extend life to Mars (and the moon), which requires ~1000 times more payload to orbit than all current Earth rockets combined."
To pass a great filter we need to be a multiplanet species. This is the first time in 4.5 billion years it has been possible to extend life beyond Earth. A self-sustaining city is the key threshold; he guessed at least a million tons.
"extend life beyond Earth"
He said the point of SpaceX is to help make humanity a spacefaring civilization and ultimately multiplanetary.
"the point of SpaceX is to help make humanity a space faring civilization and ultimately a multi planet species"
2022 · 7 answers
Starship aspires to be the first fully reusable orbital launch vehicle, the holy grail of rocketry and the critical breakthrough for multiplanetary life.
"Starship aspires to be the first fully reusable orbital launch vehicle, the holy grail of rocketry. This is the critical breakthrough needed to make life multiplanetary."
Tesla is about accelerating sustainable energy; SpaceX is about making life multi-planetary. Those goods exceed anything he does from a charitable standpoint.
"making life multi-planetary"
It is the people of Mars' city. The reason is maximizing the probable lifespan of humanity or consciousness against meteors, volcanoes, climate, or war.
"maximizing the probable lifespan of humanity"
The goal of SpaceX is to develop the technology that enables life to become multi-planetary and make humanity a space-faring civilization.
"enables life to become multi-planetary"
To make life multi-planetary and have a self-sustaining city, cost per useful landed ton had to improve to probably under $100,000 — about 10,000 times better than then-current art.
"in order to make life multi-planetary and have a self-sustaining city on Mars that number will have to improve to, I think probably under a 100,000 dollars a ton"
The fundamental good of SpaceX is whether we can make life multi-planetary and improve the probable lifespan of consciousness. Tesla's is how many years it accelerated sustainable energy.
"are we able to make life multi-planetary"
A fully reusable rocket is the Holy Grail needed to make life multi-planetary. He also gave a defensive reason: keep the light of consciousness from being extinguished if something happens to Earth.
"needed to make life multi-planetary"
2023 · 21 answers
If Starship works it could make life multi-planetary and make life on Mars real, which he treats as a civilizational filter related to the Fermi paradox.
"make life multi-planetary"
He said i hear you, but we’re not getting to Mars if civilization falls apart before then!
"I hear you, but we’re not getting to Mars if civilization falls apart before then!"
He says a rocket like Starship is what humanity needs to become spacefaring, with a base on the Moon and a city on Mars.
"this is what's needed if we're to become a spacefaring civilization and build a base on the moon and city on Mars"
SpaceX's big goal is to make life multi-planetary to extend life beyond Earth so the light of consciousness does not go out.
"we want to try to make life multi-planetary"
He said countries & companies aim too low. Their lack of ambition is their shortfall. The mission of SpaceX is to make life multiplanetary. Even slightly succeeding in that goal results in crushingly good performance to Earth...
"Countries & companies aim too low. Their lack of ambition is their shortfall. The mission of SpaceX is to make life multiplanetary. Even slightly succeeding in that goal results in crushingly good performance to Earth orbit."
At first a life-support system: Mars has a low-density atmosphere only about 1% of Earth's.
"at first you would have to have a life support system"
He is interested in what furthers civilization: expand the scope and scale of consciousness to better understand the universe.
"expand the scope and scale of consciousness"
Extend life beyond Earth so we pass the Fermi great filter of being a single-planet civilization; it's also inspiring.
"the purpose of SpaceX is to extend life beyond Earth on a sustained basis"
If we do not become multi-planetary, annihilation of all life on Earth is a certainty — the sun will eventually boil the oceans.
"annihilation of all life on earth is a certainty"
He said for the first time, there is a rocket that can make all life multiplanetary. A fork in the road of human destiny.
"For the first time, there is a rocket that can make all life multiplanetary. A fork in the road of human destiny."
He said we’re making great progress on that front. Making consciousness sustainably multiplanetary is the overarching mission.
"We’re making great progress on that front. Making consciousness sustainably multiplanetary is the overarching mission."
The exciting thing about Starship is it is the first rocket design that could make life multiplanetary: a self-sustaining Moon base and a city on Mars, via full and rapid reusability.
"the first rocket design that could make life multi Planetary"
One of the filters is whether we become a multiplanet species; if we do not, eventually something will happen to the planet.
"If we do not become a multi planet species"
He said only 66 years from first flight to landing on the moon, but now half a century has passed since the last moon landing. That cannot be our high water mark as a civilization. Humanity should have a moon base, cities on ...
"Only 66 years from first flight to landing on the moon, but now half a century has passed since the last moon landing. That cannot be our high water mark as a civilization. Humanity should have a moon base, cities on Mars and be out there among the stars!"
He argues a Mars civilization is less likely to be taken out by whatever might take down Earth, partly because the two planets are only close every two years.
"if something were to take down Earth civilization, then it's less likely to take, take out a Mars civilization because Earth and Mars are only in the same quadrant of the solar system, you know, for six months, every two years."
He says this is the first time in Earth's 4.5 billion years that life could be extended to another planet, so we should act while the window is open.
"So I think it's very important that we make life multi planetary while the window is open."
He emphasizes that making life multiplanetary is not an escape hatch from Earth.
"So I do want to emphasize this is not some escape hatch from Earth"
He says the window to become multiplanetary is open for the first time in 4.5 billion years but may close.
"So that window is now open for the first time in four and a half billion years. Now it may stay open for a long time, but it may also close."
He says we should use the time while the window is open to make life multiplanetary.
"we should just take advantage of the time when the window is open to make life multi planetary"
He said asimov was amazing. His Foundation books were an inspiration for the need to make life multiplanetary while civilization is still strong.
"Asimov was amazing. His Foundation books were an inspiration for the need to make life multiplanetary while civilization is still strong."
He said starship will make life as we know it multiplanetary for the first time in Earth’s ~4.5 billion year existence
"Starship will make life as we know it multiplanetary for the first time in Earth’s ~4.5 billion year existence"
2024 · 60 answers
Asked Nine!, he said building a city on Mars will take many launches
"Building a city on Mars will take many launches"
Starship is the first rocket where making life multiplanetary and a self-sustaining city is the actual goal; if you do not have that goal you will not achieve it.
"making life multiplanetary"
Do whatever it takes to extend consciousness into the future; making life multi-planetary is part of that.
"make life multi-planetary"
After listing SpaceX's year of progress he said one day we will indeed occupy Mars.
"one day we will indeed occupy Mars"
He said spaceX aims to make life multiplanetary, which means that the technology must be orders of magnitude better than companies that just want to put some satellites in orbit
"SpaceX aims to make life multiplanetary, which means that the technology must be orders of magnitude better than companies that just want to put some satellites in orbit"
He said pretty much anything that you can do on the ground should be done on the ground. But for warming up Mars, reflectors made on Phobos & Deimos could be a good way to go.
"Pretty much anything that you can do on the ground should be done on the ground. But for warming up Mars, reflectors made on Phobos & Deimos could be a good way to go."
Self-sufficiency is about total tonnage delivered: probably on the order of a million to 10 million tons.
"a million tons and 10 million tons"
He said the key is enough people and tonnage on Mars that Mars can survive and continue consciousness.
"we need enough people and enough tonnage on Mars such that Mars can survive and continue consciousness"
He said starlink helps fund humanity getting to Mars
"Starlink helps fund humanity getting to Mars"
Asked How long do you think our civilization will last, he said civilization needs to retain its current technology level until Mars is self-sufficient, which could be achieved within ~20 years. If we become multiplanetary and then multistellar our civilization will last millions ...
"Civilization needs to retain its current technology level until Mars is self-sufficient, which could be achieved within ~20 years. If we become multiplanetary and then multistellar our civilization will last millions of years. If not, maybe just a few hundred years."
He said the critical Fermi “great filter” threshold is Mars being able to survive and grow if the resupply ships from Earth stop coming for any reason. At that point, we will be a true multiplanet civilization.
"The critical Fermi “great filter” threshold is Mars being able to survive and grow if the resupply ships from Earth stop coming for any reason. At that point, we will be a true multiplanet civilization."
SpaceX's long-term goal is to make life multiplanetary and pass the single-planet great filter while the window is open.
"the long-term goal of course for SpaceX is to uh to make life multiplanetary"
Make life multiplanetary and be a space-bearing civilization; people need to be excited about the future, not only solving problems.
"let's make life multiplanetary"
He said spaceX’s mission is to extend consciousness to Mars and then the stars
"SpaceX’s mission is to extend consciousness to Mars and then the stars"
He said we don’t use patents, except to block patent trolls, so others are free to copy us. SpaceX is building the technology to extend consciousness beyond Earth, so the cost per ton to orbit & beyond must necessarily be low...
"We don’t use patents, except to block patent trolls, so others are free to copy us. SpaceX is building the technology to extend consciousness beyond Earth, so the cost per ton to orbit & beyond must necessarily be low enough to accomplish that goal."
A fully reusable orbital rocket is the critical breakthrough necessary for life to become multi-planetary.
"that's really the, the critical breakthrough necessary for life to become multi-planetary."
He said yeah. Most of what we consider important today will not matter, but becoming multiplanetary definitely will.
"Yeah. Most of what we consider important today will not matter, but becoming multiplanetary definitely will."
He said that was not the founding of SpaceX. We were in Russia to negotiate buying some ICBMs and converting them to launch a philanthropic mission to Mars. I later came to realize that the problem wasn’t the will to go to Ma...
"That was not the founding of SpaceX. We were in Russia to negotiate buying some ICBMs and converting them to launch a philanthropic mission to Mars. I later came to realize that the problem wasn’t the will to go to Mars – there is plenty of public interest – but rather that massive advancements were needed in rocket technology."
The aim is a self-sustaining city on Mars to maximize the probable lifespan of consciousness by millennia if not millions of years.
"build a self-sustaining city on Mars"
He said spaceX will colonize Mars. The fundamental question is whether Earth civilization can maintain its technology level long enough for the colony to grow on its own, even if the supply ships stop coming. If yes, then hum...
"SpaceX will colonize Mars. The fundamental question is whether Earth civilization can maintain its technology level long enough for the colony to grow on its own, even if the supply ships stop coming. If yes, then humanity will pass the single-planet Fermi Great Filter."
He said best to hear it in the words I have used in many interviews over the years. I have not fwiw “volunteered my sperm” 😂 No one at SpaceX has been directed to work on a Mars city. When people have asked to do so, I’ve sai...
"Best to hear it in the words I have used in many interviews over the years. I have not fwiw “volunteered my sperm” 😂 No one at SpaceX has been directed to work on a Mars city. When people have asked to do so, I’ve said we need to focus on getting there first."
He said asimov’s Foundation series was part of the inspiration for making life/consciousness multiplanetary. Being multiplanetary greatly extends the probable lifespan of civilization. We must build Terminus.
"Asimov’s Foundation series was part of the inspiration for making life/consciousness multiplanetary. Being multiplanetary greatly extends the probable lifespan of civilization. We must build Terminus."
SpaceX's goal is a self-sustaining city on Mars — the only viable planet for that. The Moon is too close and lacks resources, so it is vulnerable to a calamity that takes out Earth.
"Mars is the only viable planet for such a thing"
Grand projects could include a Moon base, sending American astronauts to Mars, and advanced high-speed connections between cities.
"we could we could build a base on the moon we could send American astronuts to Mars"
He said i hope others succeed too, but at least there is one rocket where success in making life multiplanetary is one of the possible outcomes
"I hope others succeed too, but at least there is one rocket where success in making life multiplanetary is one of the possible outcomes"
He said solar reflectors in orbit can do it too, but you need a lot of mass
"Solar reflectors in orbit can do it too, but you need a lot of mass"
He said spaceX created the first fully reusable rocket stage and, much more importantly, made the reuse economically viable. Making life multiplanetary is fundamentally a cost per ton to Mars problem. It currently costs about...
"SpaceX created the first fully reusable rocket stage and, much more importantly, made the reuse economically viable. Making life multiplanetary is fundamentally a cost per ton to Mars problem. It currently costs about a billion dollars per ton of useful payload to the surface of Mars. That needs to be improved to $100k/ton to build a self-sustaining city there, so the technology needs to be 10,000 times better. Extremely difficult, but not impossible."
He said have you read Asimov’s Foundation books? They pose an interesting question: if you knew a dark age was coming, what actions would you take to preserve knowledge and minimize the length of the dark age? For humanity, a...
"Have you read Asimov’s Foundation books? They pose an interesting question: if you knew a dark age was coming, what actions would you take to preserve knowledge and minimize the length of the dark age? For humanity, a city on Mars. Terminus."
He said making life multiplanetary is fundamentally a cost-per-ton-to-Mars problem, requiring ~10,000x improvement to ~$100k/ton.
"Making life multiplanetary is fundamentally a cost per ton to Mars problem."
He said unless there is significant government reform, laws & regulations will keep getting worse every year until every great endeavor, from high-speed rail between our cities to making life multiplanetary, is effectively il...
"Unless there is significant government reform, laws & regulations will keep getting worse every year until every great endeavor, from high-speed rail between our cities to making life multiplanetary, is effectively illegal. Trump supports a government efficiency commission to allow great things to be done, Kamala does not. We will never reach Mars if Kamala wins."
He said starship will make life multiplanetary, preserving life as know from extinction events on Earth, so long as it is not smothered by bureaucracy. There is more government regulatory smothering every year. If this contin...
"Starship will make life multiplanetary, preserving life as know from extinction events on Earth, so long as it is not smothered by bureaucracy. There is more government regulatory smothering every year. If this continues, all large projects in the United States will be illegal. For example, look at the farcically slow build of the high-speed rail line in California. After spending several billion dollars over many years, there is almost no progress. The Department of Government Efficiency is the only path to extending life beyond Earth."
He said making life multiplanetary would dramatically derisk civilizational extinction
"Making life multiplanetary would dramatically derisk civilizational extinction"
He said by the way, our commercial Starlink program is the primary source of funding for Starship (NASA is helping too). So thank for buying Starlink and supporting humanity’s future in space. If you look closely at your Star...
"By the way, our commercial Starlink program is the primary source of funding for Starship (NASA is helping too). So thank for buying Starlink and supporting humanity’s future in space. If you look closely at your Starlink router, you will notice that it has an illustration of the Earth-Mars transfer orbit."
He said 99.9% of resources allocated to Earth, but 0.1% allocated to becoming multiplanetary seems wise
"99.9% of resources allocated to Earth, but 0.1% allocated to becoming multiplanetary seems wise"
He said becoming multiplanetary is critical to ensuring the long-term survival of humanity and all life as we know it
"Becoming multiplanetary is critical to ensuring the long-term survival of humanity and all life as we know it"
He said civilization's probable lifespan is much greater as a multiplanet species.
"But the probable lifespan of civilization will be much greater if we are a multi planet species than if we are a single planet species."
He said since your handle is “Whole Mars”, perhaps this lengthy reply is apropos: Getting the cost per ton to the surface of Mars low enough that humanity has the resources to make life multiplanetary requires a roughly 1000X...
"Since your handle is “Whole Mars”, perhaps this lengthy reply is apropos: Getting the cost per ton to the surface of Mars low enough that humanity has the resources to make life multiplanetary requires a roughly 1000X improvement in rocket & spacecraft technology. Recent US Mars missions have had a cost per ton of useful load to the surface of Mars of about $1B. Moreover, it has become more, not less, expensive over time! To build a city on Mars that can grow by itself likely requires at least a million tons of equipment, which would therefore require >$1000 trillion, an obviously impossible number, given that US GDP is only $29T. However, if rocket technology can be improved by 1000X, then the cost of becoming sustainably multiplanetary would drop to ~$1T, which could be spread out over 40 or more years, so <$25B/year. At that cost, it becomes possible to make life multiplanetary, ensuring the long-term survival of life as we know it, without materially affecting people’s standard of living on Earth. Starship is designed to achieve a >1000X improvement over existing systems and, especially after yesterday’s booster catch and precise ocean landing of the ship, I am now convinced that it can work."
He said spaceX has come a long way, but we are still at the very beginning of making life multiplanetary and being a true spacefaring civilization
"SpaceX has come a long way, but we are still at the very beginning of making life multiplanetary and being a true spacefaring civilization"
He said i would have preferred to stick to cars & Mars, but it was necessary to safeguard civilization
"I would have preferred to stick to cars & Mars, but it was necessary to safeguard civilization"
He hopes to live long enough to see his kids grow up and people on Mars.
"hopefully I live long enough to see my kids grow up and people on Mars"
He said it was an interesting conversation. Combustion rockets are the best way to get to Mars in the short to medium term. There is perhaps some merit to a fission rocket shuttling between low Earth orbit and low Mars orbit,...
"It was an interesting conversation. Combustion rockets are the best way to get to Mars in the short to medium term. There is perhaps some merit to a fission rocket shuttling between low Earth orbit and low Mars orbit, but chemical rockets are well-suited to getting to orbit, given their high thrust/mass and low residual mass."
He said interesting. Well, I think China is smart to aim for a fully reusable rocket. Other countries should also do so. It is the fundamental breakthrough needed to make life multiplanetary.
"Interesting. Well, I think China is smart to aim for a fully reusable rocket. Other countries should also do so. It is the fundamental breakthrough needed to make life multiplanetary."
He said becoming multiplanetary will greatly increase the lifespan of our civilization and it is the critical next step to becoming multistellar
"Becoming multiplanetary will greatly increase the lifespan of our civilization and it is the critical next step to becoming multistellar"
He said it is the only way to build a large enough city for Mars to be self-sustaining
"It is the only way to build a large enough city for Mars to be self-sustaining"
He said governing Mars will be up to the Martians, but these are some ideas
"Governing Mars will be up to the Martians, but these are some ideas"
Asked Yo Elon, are you guys taking bookings for Starship Flight-7 to Mars, he said essential to make life multiplanetary before WW3. Not possible after.
"Essential to make life multiplanetary before WW3. Not possible after."
He said a fully reusable rocket with orbital refilling is the critical breakthrough needed to make life multiplanetary. For the first time in 4.5 billion years.
"A fully reusable rocket with orbital refilling is the critical breakthrough needed to make life multiplanetary. For the first time in 4.5 billion years."
He said starlink is how we are paying for humanity to get to Mars. That’s why there is a Hohmann transfer orbit diagram on the Starlink router.
"Starlink is how we are paying for humanity to get to Mars. That’s why there is a Hohmann transfer orbit diagram on the Starlink router."
He said unless civilization collapses, @SpaceX will make life multiplanetary
"Unless civilization collapses, @SpaceX will make life multiplanetary"
He said starship can also be used to create a large, permanently crewed Moon Base Alpha research station
"Starship can also be used to create a large, permanently crewed Moon Base Alpha research station"
He said life must become sustainably multiplanetary before civilization drops below the point that resupply ships stop coming, whether due to war, population collapse or some other reason.
"Life must become sustainably multiplanetary before civilization drops below the point that resupply ships stop coming, whether due to war, population collapse or some other reason."
He said even if we fail at creating a Mars colony that can grow without continuous support from Earth, the absurdly ambitious nature of the goal nonetheless results in the creation of alien-level technology that is crushingly...
"Even if we fail at creating a Mars colony that can grow without continuous support from Earth, the absurdly ambitious nature of the goal nonetheless results in the creation of alien-level technology that is crushingly better than competitors who merely aim for Earth orbit."
He said wow, they really don’t get it. Mars is critical to the long-term survival of consciousness. Also, I’m not going to ask any venture capitalists for money. I realize that it makes no sense as an investment. That’s why I...
"Wow, they really don’t get it. Mars is critical to the long-term survival of consciousness. Also, I’m not going to ask any venture capitalists for money. I realize that it makes no sense as an investment. That’s why I’m gathering resources."
He said making life multiplanetary for the first time in 4.5 billion years is what humanity will accomplish this century
"Making life multiplanetary for the first time in 4.5 billion years is what humanity will accomplish this century"
He said exploring is a relatively minor factor, compared to making consciousness multiplanetary, as the latter greatly extends the probable lifespan of civilization
"Exploring is a relatively minor factor, compared to making consciousness multiplanetary, as the latter greatly extends the probable lifespan of civilization"
He said the ISS requires a lot of care and feeding. Time to say goodbye and move on to the Moon and Mars.
"The ISS requires a lot of care and feeding. Time to say goodbye and move on to the Moon and Mars."
He said ultimate success is building a civilization on Mars that can continue to grow even if resupply ships from Earth stop coming. That gets us past the single-planet Fermi Great Filter. Along the way, there are of course m...
"Ultimate success is building a civilization on Mars that can continue to grow even if resupply ships from Earth stop coming. That gets us past the single-planet Fermi Great Filter. Along the way, there are of course many milestones of success that are significant from a product/technology or business standpoint, but becoming multiplanetary is one of the few things profound enough to make the top 10 all-time evolutionary milestones."
He said spaceX is the railroad that will enable millions of opportunities for others on Mars, just like the Union Pacific Railroad did for California
"SpaceX is the railroad that will enable millions of opportunities for others on Mars, just like the Union Pacific Railroad did for California"
He said you can definitely game on Mars, but speed of light means no real-time gaming between Earth and Mars. Distance varies from ~4 to ~20 light-minutes.
"You can definitely game on Mars, but speed of light means no real-time gaming between Earth and Mars. Distance varies from ~4 to ~20 light-minutes."
He said mars will be called the “New World”, just as America was in past centuries. Such an inspiring adventure!
"Mars will be called the “New World”, just as America was in past centuries. Such an inspiring adventure!"
2025 · 47 answers
He said making life multiplanetary requires a vastly higher standard. The “competition” is making the equivalent of expendable rowboats, instead of ocean-crossing ships, because their sights are set far too low.
"Making life multiplanetary requires a vastly higher standard. The “competition” is making the equivalent of expendable rowboats, instead of ocean-crossing ships, because their sights are set far too low."
He said starship is the first rocket design where success in making life multiplanetary is in the set of possible outcomes
"Starship is the first rocket design where success in making life multiplanetary is in the set of possible outcomes"
He said starship is the first ever rocket design capable of making life multiplanetary. Becoming multiplanetary is a milestone that, if achieved, would fit in the top 10 biggest events in the evolution of life. And it would g...
"Starship is the first ever rocket design capable of making life multiplanetary. Becoming multiplanetary is a milestone that, if achieved, would fit in the top 10 biggest events in the evolution of life. And it would greatly extend the lifespan of civilization, enabling a far greater understanding of the universe."
He said making life multiplanetary to maximize the lifespan of consciousness will matter most. But maybe that would not have happened without buying Twitter.
"Making life multiplanetary to maximize the lifespan of consciousness will matter most. But maybe that would not have happened without buying Twitter."
We should have a second planet to preserve civilization against asteroids, nuclear war or supervolcanoes.
"we should have a second planet uh to preserve civilization"
He said starships on Mars or, even better, stationed throughout the asteroid belt, would be ideal for protecting Earth from asteroids and especially comets
"Starships on Mars or, even better, stationed throughout the asteroid belt, would be ideal for protecting Earth from asteroids and especially comets"
He said it is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the @Space_Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let’s go to Mars.
"It is time to begin preparations for deorbiting the @Space_Station. It has served its purpose. There is very little incremental utility. Let’s go to Mars."
He would like to go to Mars; asked if he wants to die on Mars he says yes, just not on impact.
"I'd like to go to Mars at some point"
He said we want to make it so that anyone can travel to Mars if they would like
"We want to make it so that anyone can travel to Mars if they would like"
He said will we make Mars self-sustaining before civilization loses the ability to do so? That is the critical question.
"Will we make Mars self-sustaining before civilization loses the ability to do so? That is the critical question."
He said competition is better And stopping at the Moon simply slows down getting to Mars
"Competition is better And stopping at the Moon simply slows down getting to Mars"
He said spaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars. If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that o...
"SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars. If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this."
He said it’s from Asimov’s Foundation. But I’m open to other ideas. Ultimately, it will be up to the people of Mars to decide.
"It’s from Asimov’s Foundation. But I’m open to other ideas. Ultimately, it will be up to the people of Mars to decide."
He said only 66 years from first flight to landing on the Moon in 1969. Here we are, 76 years later cannot yet return to the Moon. We should have been on Mars by now.
"Only 66 years from first flight to landing on the Moon in 1969. Here we are, 76 years later cannot yet return to the Moon. We should have been on Mars by now."
He said space Exploration Technologies will make life multiplanetary, provided that country rivalries do not inhibit this outcome. The Starlink global communications system was built to fund that goal, which is why there is a...
"Space Exploration Technologies will make life multiplanetary, provided that country rivalries do not inhibit this outcome. The Starlink global communications system was built to fund that goal, which is why there is a Mars transfer orbit diagram on the Starlink Internet router. (Btw, asteroid mining is not economically competitive. Every element we could ever want is plentiful and far lower cost to mine on Earth.)"
He said mars will have direct democracy, which is less prone to corruption
"Mars will have direct democracy, which is less prone to corruption"
He calls it a tough call but says colonizing Mars and making life multiplanetary is harder. He still expects $1 trillion of savings over time, not in a few months.
"colonizing Mars and making life multi-planetary is harder"
Progress is gauged by the timeline to a self-sustaining civilization on Mars, not by conventional aerospace metrics.
"Progress is measured by the timeline to establishing a self-sustaining civilization on Mars."
Even the vehicle launching at the end of 2025 would be capable of making life multiplanetary; later work is efficiency, cost per ton and cost per person.
"even with the rocket that will be launching just at the end of this year, it will be capable of making life multilanetary"
He said it’s a useful exercise for Mars too, where vast solar arrays will be needed plus fission
"It’s a useful exercise for Mars too, where vast solar arrays will be needed plus fission"
He said humanity has a shot at reaching the stars, but only if civilization holds strong long enough for Mars to prosper on its own. Then Mars can come to the aid of Earth, just as America came to the aid of the world in WW1,...
"Humanity has a shot at reaching the stars, but only if civilization holds strong long enough for Mars to prosper on its own. Then Mars can come to the aid of Earth, just as America came to the aid of the world in WW1, WW2 and the Cold War."
Asked What are everyone’s thoughts on @DJSnM replacement to the SLS, he said misses the point. Repeating Apollo would just be a sad remake of a great 60’s movie. We need to go far beyond Apollo and make life multiplanetary with Mars.
"Misses the point. Repeating Apollo would just be a sad remake of a great 60’s movie. We need to go far beyond Apollo and make life multiplanetary with Mars."
He said either we expand to the stars or we wait around on Earth until a natural or manmade extinction event occurs. Those are our choices. Also, being multiplanetary greatly improves the probability that we can intercept a m...
"Either we expand to the stars or we wait around on Earth until a natural or manmade extinction event occurs. Those are our choices. Also, being multiplanetary greatly improves the probability that we can intercept a meteor headed for Earth or otherwise come to the rescue!"
He said the CH4/O2 propellant plants on Mars will be solar-powered
"The CH4/O2 propellant plants on Mars will be solar-powered"
He said not an exit plan. Multiplanetary means life/consciousness on many planets, not just moving from one single planet to another single planet.
"Not an exit plan. Multiplanetary means life/consciousness on many planets, not just moving from one single planet to another single planet."
Governance will be up to the Martians, and people would live in glass domes at first. He argues most effort should stay on Earth, with maybe 1% aimed at becoming multiplanetary so the tiny candle of consciousness cannot go out.
"99% of what we do should be focused on Earth"
He said orbital refilling is an essential technology for making consciousness multiplanetary.
"Orbital refilling is an essential technology for making consciousness multiplanetary"
He said SpaceX is an anomaly even as competitors increase launch rates, because nothing compares to a system designed to make life multiplanetary.
"This is despite @SpaceX competitors increasing their launch rates. SpaceX is an anomaly in the matrix. Nothing can compare to a system designed to make life/consciousness multiplanetary."
Asked if humanity is only colonizing Mars, he said Mars is just the next step.
"Mars is just the next step"
He said there is a lot of ice on Mars, and even much of the red-colored parts are dusty glaciers.
"There is LOT of ice on Mars! Even much of the red-colored parts are actually just dusty glaciers."
He said making consciousness multiplanetary is essential for its long-term survival.
"Making consciousness multiplanetary is essential for its long-term survival"
Go to the Moon to build a lunar research base, then a self-sustaining city on Mars. The key test is whether Mars prospers if resupply from Earth stops; that planetary redundancy matters more than early governance, and the window to become multiplanetary exists now for the first time in Earth's history.
"the probable lifespan of consciousness is dramatically greater"
He said making life multiplanetary is expensive but necessary for the long-term survival of consciousness.
"Making life multiplanetary is expensive, but it is necessary for the long-term survival of consciousness"
SpaceX's goal is rocket tech that can extend life beyond Earth: a self-sustaining city on Mars and a permanent Moon base.
"we can extend life beyond Earth and that we can establish a self-sustaining city on Mars"
He said he holds one passport, America, will live and die here, or on Mars as part of America.
"I hold one passport now & forever: America. I will live & die here. Or Mars (part of America)."
He said humanity was on a path of rising launch cost and diminishing capability so multiplanetary life might never have happened, and SpaceX is an attempt to change that with a long way still to go.
"Humanity was on a path of increasing launch cost and diminishing capability, so it might never have happened. SpaceX is an attempt to change that, but we still have a very long way to go to make life multiplanetary."
He said no commercial opportunity is more important than long-term survival of consciousness via becoming multiplanetary, and a self-sustaining Moon city is probably worth doing in addition to Mars.
"We should not take survival on Earth too much for granted. No commercial opportunity, however large, is more important than ensuring the long-term survival of consciousness, which becoming multiplanetary enables. Space habitats require mass transfer from elsewhere to grow. Planets do not. That said, a self-sustaining city on the Moon, while not as resilient to calamities that affect Earth as Mars (due to its proximity to Earth), is probably nonetheless worth the doing, in addition to Mars."
He said if civilization drops below the tech level needed for interplanetary spaceflight before becoming multiplanetary, that could be the end of consciousness.
"If civilization drops below the tech level needed for interplanetary spaceflight before making life multiplanetary, that could be the end of consciousness"
He said become multiplanetary or die: that is the choice we face.
"Become multiplanetary or die That is the choice we face https://t.co/e099yzboXq"
Making life multiplanetary is on the evolutionary 'top 10,' but Mars is not an escape hatch: it will be dangerous, uncomfortable, and may fail. Tesla and xAI are about keeping Earth good too.
"probably in the top 10 is life becoming multilanetary"
He said from here to Mars and then to the stars.
"From here to Mars and then to the stars"
He said a radical improvement in rocket technology was needed to make life multiplanetary, which required creating a company because existing rocket companies could not succeed at it.
"I came to the (obvious) conclusion that a radical improvement in rocket technology was needed to make life multiplanetary. That required creating a company, as success was not in the set of possible outcomes for the existing rocket companies."
He asked whether it would be amazing if anyone who wanted to experience space, the Moon or Mars could do so.
"Wouldn’t it be amazing if anyone who wanted to experience the wonder of space, the Moon or Mars could do so?"
He said Mars will be green with life one day.
"Mars will be green with life one day"
He said the value of the solar system, let alone the galaxy, far exceeds that of a single planet.
"The value of the solar system, let alone the galaxy, far exceeds that of a single planet"
He said making life multiplanetary to ensure long-term survival of consciousness will be expensive.
"Yeah. Making life multiplanetary to ensure the long-term survival of consciousness will be expensive."
He congratulated SpaceX on a record year and said they grow ever closer to the Moon and Mars.
"Well done, @SpaceX team, on a record year! We grow ever closer to the Moon and Mars."
2026 · 23 answers
They are hard tech problems, but the companies' goal is to maximize the probability civilization has a great future and to extend life and consciousness beyond Earth — a tiny candle that could go out — which is why SpaceX exists.
"the overall goal of my companies is to maximize the future of civilization"
The important thing is consciousness; most future intelligence will be AI, and the goal is to maximize the light cone of consciousness and intelligence, with humans along for the ride.
"I'm not sure AI is the main risk I'm worried about"
Responding to Peter Thiel claiming he stopped believing in Mars, he said the assessment is inaccurate and he has never wavered in believing we should make life multiplanetary.
"Peter’s assessment is inaccurate. As my posts show, I have never wavered in believing that we should make life multiplanetary. Now, more than ever."
He said a major civilization needs mass from a substrate like the Moon or Mars; hauling mass out of a gravity well is inefficient, and Von Neumann machines like Optimus can convert local mass into civilization.
"You need to get mass from a substrate, like the Moon or Mars, to grow a major civilization, which obviously requires vast amounts of mass. It is extremely inefficient to keep moving the mass out of some planetary gravity well to grow and the asteroid belt is too far away and too spread out. Once you have Von Neumann machines like Optimi on a major mass substrate, they can convert that local mass to civilization very efficiently."
He said other companies aren't trying to extend consciousness to the stars so they aim too low; even if SpaceX fails at that, it still yields more capable rockets.
"Other companies are not trying to extend consciousness to the stars, so they aim too low. Even if SpaceX fails in this grand goal, we still end up with vastly more capable rockets."
It is impossible to become a multiplanet civilization without reusable rockets, just as America could not have been colonized with expendable boats.
"It is impossible to become a multiplanet civilization without reusable rockets, just as it would have been impossible to colonize America with expendable boats."
He said fully reusable rockets favor higher thrust-to-weight, because propellant cost then dominates cost per ton to orbit.
"Fully reusable rockets bias towards higher T/W, as propellant cost dominates cost per ton to orbit."
He said SpaceX is about taking the fiction out of science fiction and creating an exciting future for everyone.
"And that's what SpaceX is all about, is to take the fiction out of science fiction and create an exciting, inspiring Future for everyone."
He said the Tesla Roadster that used to be in his garage is in an Earth-Mars elliptical orbit and will be there for at least 10 million years.
"The car that used to be in my garage is currently in an Earth-Mars elliptical orbit and will be there for at least 10 million years"
He's interested in whatever propagates consciousness furthest; still wants a civilization on the Moon and Mars.
"I'm interested in the set of actions that propagate consciousness into the future to the maximum degree possible"
SpaceX's goal is a city on the Moon and Mars and expanding life and consciousness beyond Earth to the solar system and eventually other star systems.
"life and consciousness as we know it uh beyond Earth"
He said Peter Thiel was wrong about him: he always knew Earth dangers follow to Mars, but travel difficulty (6-month pandemic quarantine; light-minutes vs AI/computer virus) greatly reduces extinction risk. Mars is a stepping stone to the solar system and millions of stars. What motivates him most is exploration; we might meet aliens or find dead civilizations.
"Peter is not correct about me in this case. I have always known that dangers from Earth will also pose dangers to Mars. Obviously so. However, the immense difficulty of traveling to Mars means that there is a much higher likelihood of mitigating risks originating from Earth. A clear example of major risk reduction would be a deadly pandemic. Since it takes 6 months to reach Mars, there is an automatic 6 month quarantine! Even traveling at the speed of light, a deadly computer virus or AI attack can potentially be stopped due to Mars being ~4 to ~20 light-minutes from Earth. This doesn’t mean that a Mars civilization eliminates all risk, but it absolutely greatly reduces the risk of consciousness being extinguished. Moreover, Mars is a stepping stone to extending consciousness broadly within our solar system and ultimately to millions of stars within our galaxy, which would extend the probable lifespan of consciousness as we know it by many orders of magnitude. That said, what I personally find most motivating is not the risk reduction aspect of extending life beyond Earth, but rather the inspiring nature of exploration and being out there among the stars! Perhaps we will meet aliens or find the remains of long-dead civilizations that lasted millions of years …"
He said he will not forget about Mars.
"I will not forget about Mars"
That is the kind of tonnage needed to build a civilization on the Moon, Mars and beyond; without millions of tons to Earth orbit you cannot get millions of tons to the Moon and Mars.
"that's the kind of tonnage that you need in order to build a civilization on the Moon, Mars and beyond."
He said the Roadster launched on Falcon Heavy because failure probability was very high and they did not want to risk anything valuable.
"Very few people know that the reason we launched my old Tesla Roadster to orbit Earth and Mars is that the probability of failure was very high and we didn’t want to risk anything valuable"
Starship is meant to carry enough payload to the moon and Mars to build a self-growing city, on the order of a million tons to the surface, and also launch hundreds of gigawatts of AI compute a year.
"self growing city on the moon or Mars"
The fundamental breakthrough for a multiplanetary life is full and rapid rocket reusability; otherwise costs are impossible, like throwing away a jet after every flight.
"full and rapid reusability"
Replying to a claim that SpaceX had reoriented around Earth-Moon industry and Mars had fallen off, he said they're still doing Mars.
"We’re still doing Mars"
He said extending consciousness to the Moon and Mars takes a lot of mass.
"Extending consciousness to the Moon and Mars takes a lot of mass"
He said Starship will expand physics research by putting much larger telescopes in orbit and giant ones on the Moon.
"Starship will expand the aperture of physics research by placing much larger telescopes in orbit and giant ones on the Moon"
As civilization expands into space, most of the work is digital thinking rather than shaping atoms; he wants to build digital superintelligence and a sentient sun to understand the universe.
"what I call creating a sentient sun"
He posted that Starship will deploy Starlink V3 satellites.
"Starship deploying Starlink V3 satellites"
He said SpaceX will provide connectivity throughout the solar system and beyond, after a clip of Michael Nicolls on Moon and Mars Starlink.
"SpaceX will provide connectivity throughout the solar system and beyond"