SpaceX CEO Elon Musk‘s plan to terraform Mars is the “stupidest thing” one can pursue, says astrophysicist and author Adam Becker. In an interview last month, Becker explained why the red planet could not and should not be occupied and how billionaires like Musk and Jeff Bezos are selling “sci-fi fantasies.”
In his new book ‘More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity,’ Becker challenged the idea of colonising Mars saying the billionaire CEOs don’t know what they’re after.
He even argues that Earth will be far more hospitable even if an asteroid hits it or all nuclear weapons on this planet detonate. “Musk talks about Mars as a lifeboat for humanity, which is among the very stupidest things that someone could say,” Becker told Rolling Stone.
“Earth is always going to be a better option no matter what happens to Earth. Like, we could get hit with an asteroid the size of the one that killed off the dinosaurs, and Earth would still be more habitable. We could explode every single nuclear weapon, and Earth would still be more habitable. We could have the worst-case scenario for climate change, and Earth would still be more habitable. Any cursory examination of any of the facts about Mars makes it very clear,” he further said.
According to The Harvard Gazette, Becker said that as a child, he was a firm believer that humanity should live among the stars but his belief changed as he learned about the inhospitality of space. “As I got older, I learned more and realized, ‘Oh, that’s not happening. We’re not going to go to space and certainly going to space is not going to make things better,” he said.
ALSO SEE: Elon Musk Says He’ll Go Straight To Mars; Calls Colonisation Of Moon A ‘Distraction’
The scientists also believes that the billionaire CEOs are using their money “to run away as far as they like from their fears.”
Musk, on the other hand, says Mars could be insurance for humanity if Earth faces catastrophe in the future. Through SpaceX, he intends to establish a colony on the red planet with a million people. However, experts like Becker have always voiced their concerns about the idea.
Astrophysicist Lawrence Krauss was another critic of the endeavour saying Musk’s ambition to settle humans on Mars is dangerous. “This plan is logistically ludicrous, strategically ill advised, and scientifically and politically divisive and dangerous,” he had written in an opinion piece in May.
ALSO SEE: Elon Musk’s Dream To Occupy Mars Could Be Disastrous If Rushed, Says Award-Winning Book
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