Elon Musk's mission to Mars

He's known as the real-life Tony Stark: a billionaire inventor working on electric cars, an 800mph 'Hyperloop' train system and reusable rockets. The plan, says Elon Musk, is to minimise climate change – and colonise the red planetElon Musk has flown so high, so fast, it is hard not to wonder when, and how, he will crash to earth. How could he not? Musk is so many things – inventor, entrepreneur, billionaire, space pioneer, inspiration for Iron Man's playboy superhero Tony Stark – and he has pushed the boundaries of science and business, doing what others declare impossible. At some point, surely, he will fall victim to sod's law, or gravity.He is only 41, but so far Musk shows no sign of tumbling earthwards. Nasa and other clients are queuing up to use his rockets, part of the rapid commercialisation of space. His other company, electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors, is powering ahead. Such success would satisfy many tycoons, but for Musk they are merely means to ends: minimising climate change and colonising Mars. And not in some distant future – he wants to accomplish both within our lifetimes.Musk has a reputation for being prickly but when I meet him at SpaceX, his headquarters west of Los Angeles, he is affable and chatty, cheerfully expounding on space exploration, climate change, Richard Branson and Hollywood. Oh, and what he would like written on his Martian tombstone."The key thing for me," he begins, "is to develop the technology to transport large numbers...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: The Guardian United States World news Mars Technology Features Interviews Elon Musk Science Space Source Type: news