Elon Musk wants to put millions of people on Mars.

RGClark · Posted on: Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:03 pm

I'll Put Millions of People on Mars, says Elon Musk.
posted Dec 22, 2011 9:10 PM by Michael Stoltz [ updated Dec 22, 2011
9:29 PM ] By Greg Klerkx, New Scientist, 12.22.11
http://www.marssociety.org/home/press/n ... yselonmusk

In the article Elon says that if SpaceX succeeds at reusable rockets
at the price of $100 to $200 per kg range, then he can get the mission
to Mars at $5 billion:

Quote:

Musk is eventually hoping to build this kind of reusability into
SpaceX's newest launch vehicle, the Falcon Heavy. Scheduled for
testing in early 2013, Falcon Heavy will be the largest rocket flown
since NASA's Saturn V launched astronauts to the moon. Musk says that
a reusable version of the rocket could deliver a payload of up to 15
tonnes to Mars at a cost of $100 to $200 per kilogram. That makes his
$5 billion humans-to-Mars price tag seem realistic. Even so, the
Falcon Heavy would need to be "heavier" still to carry the minimum 50-
tonne payload needed for a Mars mission. But Musk, whose title at
SpaceX is CEO and chief technology officer, is working on that too.

Elon also reiterates his stance, that I agree with, about the
importance of achieving reusability in spaceflight:

Quote:

At no point in our discussions does he withdraw or alter his 10 to 20
year time-frame for Mars. Even at the far end of that range, Musk
would be only 60 when the first Martian expedition launched. Would he
consider going on that first trip? "If someone had solved the rapidly
reusable launch system problem, then yes, I'd definitely go," he says.
"But if it were simply a one-time flight, then no, because I'd need to
stay and keep at the challenge with SpaceX. It is too important. This
is something that I'm in for the long haul."

Bob Clark

Author	Message
RGClark Space Walker Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:18 am Posts: 197	Elon Musk wants to put millions of people on Mars. Posted on: Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:03 pm I'll Put Millions of People on Mars, says Elon Musk. posted Dec 22, 2011 9:10 PM by Michael Stoltz [ updated Dec 22, 2011 9:29 PM ] By Greg Klerkx, New Scientist, 12.22.11 http://www.marssociety.org/home/press/n ... yselonmusk In the article Elon says that if SpaceX succeeds at reusable rockets at the price of $100 to $200 per kg range, then he can get the mission to Mars at $5 billion: Quote: Musk is eventually hoping to build this kind of reusability into SpaceX's newest launch vehicle, the Falcon Heavy. Scheduled for testing in early 2013, Falcon Heavy will be the largest rocket flown since NASA's Saturn V launched astronauts to the moon. Musk says that a reusable version of the rocket could deliver a payload of up to 15 tonnes to Mars at a cost of $100 to $200 per kilogram. That makes his $5 billion humans-to-Mars price tag seem realistic. Even so, the Falcon Heavy would need to be "heavier" still to carry the minimum 50- tonne payload needed for a Mars mission. But Musk, whose title at SpaceX is CEO and chief technology officer, is working on that too. Elon also reiterates his stance, that I agree with, about the importance of achieving reusability in spaceflight: Quote: At no point in our discussions does he withdraw or alter his 10 to 20 year time-frame for Mars. Even at the far end of that range, Musk would be only 60 when the first Martian expedition launched. Would he consider going on that first trip? "If someone had solved the rapidly reusable launch system problem, then yes, I'd definitely go," he says. "But if it were simply a one-time flight, then no, because I'd need to stay and keep at the challenge with SpaceX. It is too important. This is something that I'm in for the long haul." Bob Clark _________________ Single-stage-to-orbit was already shown possible 50 years ago with the Titan II first stage. Contrary to popular belief, SSTO's in fact are actually easy. Just use the most efficient engines and stages at the same time, and the result will automatically be SSTO. Blog: http://exoscientist.blogspot.com
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SANEAlex Space Station Member Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:21 pm Posts: 274 Location: B.O.A. UK	Re: Elon Musk wants to put millions of people on Mars. Posted on: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:52 pm I only found out recently when reading about this via NewScientist that Elon had won the Heinlein Prize back in June there are some linked vids of him accepting the prize and talking about his plans from the link below. http://www.heinleinprize.com/?p=972 _________________ Someone has to tilt at windmills. So that we know what to do when the real giants come!!!!
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