World War III May Ruin Mars Mission, Says SpaceX Founder Elon Musk

SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, talks about his ambitions to colonise Mars before its too late. (Photo: The Quint)

Looking into future, Tesla and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk is worried that World War III will thwart a trip to the red planet.

The billionaire entrepreneur told GQ that the colonisation of Mars could be delayed, possibly indefinitely, if not done soon.

Musk reasons that in addition to being an inspiring adventure it also assure the long­term survival of humankind. If a calamity, self­-made or otherwise, destroyed life on Earth, as long as a human colony was established elsewhere, the species could endure. In Musk’s mind, becoming multi-­planetary is just good common sense, a prudent move that he has likened to backing up a computer.

You back up your hard drive.... Maybe we should back up life, too?

Elon Musk

He believes that one can never discount the possibility of a third World War.

In 1912 they were proclaiming a new age of peace and prosperity, saying that it was a golden age, war was over. And then you had World War I followed by World War II followed by the Cold War. So I think we need to acknowledge that there’s certainly a possibility of a third World War, and if that does occur it could be far worse than anything that’s happened before. Let’s say nuclear weapons are used. I mean, there could be a very powerful social movement that’s anti-technology. There’s also growth in religious extremism. Like, I mean, does ISIS grow…?

Musk is aware of the enormity of the cause he has taken up. He assured that they would release the full plan of Mars colonisation by 2016.

He laughs. “It’s really big.” And laughs again. “It’s really big. There’s not been any architecture like this described that I’m aware of.”