Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is urging humanity to extend its reach beyond Earth, stressing the need for moon bases and cities on Mars. Musk expressed disappointment that half a century has passed since the last Moon landing, underscoring the historical importance of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which marked the first time humans set foot on the Moon’s surface.
Reflecting on the accomplishment of the Apollo 11 mission, Musk noted the rapid progress from first flight to moon landing in just 66 years. However, he highlighted the lack of subsequent lunar attempts over the past 50 years, and expressed his belief that it should not serve as the pinnacle of human civilization.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk insisted, “Humanity should have a moon base, cities on Mars, and be out there among the stars.” The statement is in line with Musk’s long-term ambition to advance human exploration and habitation beyond our planet.
Elaborating on his vision for the future, Musk stressed the need to establish a permanent human base on the Moon. He envisions a moon base as an important step before moving further into space, with Mars being the next destination for human colonization. While acknowledging the potential for exploration beyond the International Space Station, Musk is focusing on the immediate goals of lunar and Mars settlements.
Musk’s space exploration company SpaceX is at the forefront of these ambitious plans. They estimate that the Starship mega-rocket developed by SpaceX could conduct an unmanned mission to Mars within the next three to four years. This mega rocket is an integral part of Musk’s broader vision of making interplanetary travel a reality.
Apart from this, Elon Musk is also planning to bring his Starlink satellite service to India with the promise of providing high-speed internet in remote areas. Recently there was news that he is in discussion with the Government of India to bridge the digital gap. Starlink’s entry depends on regulatory approval with a pending license application. If approved, it could transform education, health care and opportunities in rural India. That being said, affordability and accessibility will also be a major challenge, requiring diverse pricing strategies and local partnerships. However, data security and privacy concerns are something that is still being analyzed.
