SpaceX founder Elon Musk admits ‘a bunch of people with probably die’ during initial voyages to Mars.
However, he insisted that the journey will be a ‘glorious adventure and amazing experience.’
He was speaking with the founder of the X Prize Foundation, Peter Diamandis, when he made the warning.
“Going to Mars reads like that advert for Shackleton going to the Antarctic. You know it is dangerous, it’s uncomfortable and it’s a long journey,” Musk said.
“You might not come back alive but it is a glorious adventure and it will be an amazing experience.
“Yeah, honestly a bunch of people will probably die in the beginning.
“It’s tough going over there.”
Musk said he hopes to get humans on the Red Planet by 2026.
After a series of successful test flights, he hopes to send an empty Starship to Mars and back in 2024 and a crewed flight in 2026.
“For the first time in the four and a half billion year history of Earth it has been possible to extend life beyond Earth and make life multi-planetary,” he said.
“Humanity is the agent of life and we have an obligation to ensure the creatures of Earth continue even if there is a calamity on Earth, whether it is man-made or a natural calamity – if you look at the fossil record there are many mass extinctions,” Musk continued.
“It is about ensuring we pass that threshold where it is self-sustaining if some calamity prevents the ships from going there.
“What comes first – a self-sustaining city on Mars or World War Three?”
He added: “It will be fun and a great adventure, but it will not be a luxurious thing to start.”
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