SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Says 'We Plan to Launch People to Mars in 2024'

We all know that SpaceX is planning to send its 1st unmanned rocket to Mars in 2018 but now Musk says the plan is to send people to Mars as soon as 2024 and to have another launch to Mars every 26 months.

SpaceX and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk will send a mission to Mars — on the Flying Dragon version 2 rocket —starting in 2018 and launch a rocket headed there at every open opportunity — every 26 months. "It is intended to carry astronauts to the International Space Station," said Musk at the Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on Wednesday night. "But we are going to send one to Mars in 2018." But that's not the biggest ambition. If everything goes according to plan, the first rocket carrying human cargo will launch in 2024, he said. The Flying Dragon 2 has the interior size of an SUV and is capable of carrying up to seven people and will take 18 months to get there. "I would not recommend traveling to Mars in that," he said. "It would be a long time to spend on an SUV." It also does not have the capability to get back to earth, we put that in the fine print," he said.

In the spirit of Mars One, these will be one-way trips; you don't return home. So, what does ATS think? Is Musk overly ambitious or can we do this?

www.nbcnews.com...

a reply to: lostbook
I think it can be done, so your never coming home? Wow. I would do it.

Can I go?

I swear I'll learn algebra if I have too.

a reply to: onequestion
LOL, I'll go with you and learn to add!

a reply to: Quantum12

We can study together! We'll be the first monkeys on Mars!

a reply to: onequestion

Lol, then the humans will come and wreck Mars too!

a reply to: Quantum12

Hmmmm.

We'll have to bring weapons!

a reply to: onequestion

I'll bring the forks and we will have to open a MacDonalds for the humans and call it MarDonalds

a reply to: Quantum12

I only eat plankton and seaweed.

a reply to: onequestion

Don't wood I eat seaweed too no meat. There is water on Mars so we will be ok

Room for 1 more on this trip? I know algebra.

I have forks too.

a reply to: wdkirk

Pack up lets go!

a reply to: Quantum12

Sweet!

Road trip!

I'll believe it when I see it.
I wouldn't go. These people are gonna go insane, but be trapped. Possibly even die.

Exciting, nonetheless.

originally posted by: wdkirk
Room for 1 more on this trip? I know algebra.

I have forks too.

Yeah room for more but no cows or cow meat or dairy milk, all gross things.

Sounds like you two have this all figured out. So, I guess this means you two will populate life on Mars...You even have a friendly spider who can make silk for you to make beds, clothing, etc...

a reply to: lostbook

👍🏽 lol, your coming too!

a reply to: Quantum12

We'll be one big, happy family on Mars!!

If anyone can do it, SpaceX can...BUT, I'm fairly confident in predicting that no one id going to Mars in 2024. Remember, that date is if all goes to plan. Which it won't.

I think 2030. Thats only 14 years away. i think that is a more realistic timeframe.

a reply to: violet

You can go insane, feel trapped and definitely will die at some point here on Earth, so what's the difference ? At least going on a journey to Mars is exciting