Featured Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Staff / John Lamparski / Contributor / Getty
Uh oh, the boys are fighting again. In what's possibly one of the nerdiest arguments of 2024, Elon Musk and Neil deGrasse Tyson are arguing over the colonization of Mars.
As we reach for the stars, Musk's role as the CEO of SpaceX sees the world's most dominant space launch provider soaring in popularity.
Not everyone is impressed with Musk's role as a wannabe spaceman, and among them is astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
When asked about the world's richest man's plans to colonize Mars during an interview on Real Time with Bill Maher, deGrasse Tyson said he has 'strong views on that.'
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In a particularly charged statement, deGrasse Tyson explained: "My read of the history of space exploration is such that we do big, expensive things only when it's geopolitically expedient, such as we feel threatened by an enemy."
He suggested that Musk is focusing on Mars because 'it's the next thing to do’ and accused the billionaire of being a venture capitalist who could cost people their lives by going to Mars. The astrophysicist also says that Musk will struggle to find investors willing to stump up the cash to send us to Mars.
Adding that President-elect Trump has an interest in Mars, deGrasse Tyson says we might be having another conversation in a couple of months.
Still, he concluded: "At some point, somebody has to pay for it, and just being interested in something is not the same thing as paying for it."
Never one to take things lying down, Musk has sniped back on X, writing: "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."
Wow, they really don’t get it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 23, 2024
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. https://t.co/XVCpHKlusD
Musk has previously referred to how the SpaceX Starship will make life 'multiplanetary' and save the human race from any number of potential extinction events that we keep being warned about. He's adamant that life on Mars is the next step but says it will only work as long as he isn't 'smothered by bureaucracy.'
After his appointment as the co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has vowed to slash $2 trillion from government spending.
He sees this as key in helping his Starship program flourish, which suggests he'll be plowing some of those savings back into his own work.
Still, deGrasse Tyson is one of many who've taken issue with Musk's plans.
Astronomer Martin Rees has referred to it as a 'dangerous illusion,' while David Kipping, the Assistant Professor, Department of Astronomy at Columbia University, said there are legitimate concerns that it's 'totally crazy.' Despite those against Musk, he's powering ahead with his grand plans to get a million people to Mars. With Musk set to become the world's first trillionaire and having more than enough money to make his Mars colonization a reality, deGrasse and the rest of the science bros might have to grin and bear it.
