Elon Musk has been making headlines all over the web because of the man's desire to transform the human race into a multi-planetary species. And this isn't just a passing fancy for the billionaire, no.
Musk is completely adamant about this concept. So adamant, in fact, that initiatives are currently being carried out to make this plan into fruition.
Domes and Glass Panes To House Humans Colonizing Mars
He has given multiple talks regarding this concept, the latest being was at the International Astronautical Congress held in September. Following this, he has given an "Ask Me Anything" over at the SpaceX subreddit where he answered questions from hundreds of space enthusiasts, said Mirror.
One question asked was how is he going to make life habitable for humans in the red planet's harsh environment? "Initially, glass panes with carbon fiber frames to build geodesic domes on the surface, plus a lot of miner/tunneling droids.
"With the latter, you can build out a huge amount of pressurized space for industrial operations and leave the glass domes for green living space," wrote Musk. When asked about when will he reveal designs about this habitable area, Musk wrote that SpaceX will release a mock-up of it in "maybe a year or two."
Initial Missions To Mars Will Mainly Focus On Cargo; Astronauts At High Risk Of Fatality
As for the initial step for colonizing the red planet, the business magnate said that early missions will mainly focus on cargo and will be unmanned. It will also be used to provide further data regarding landing technology, testing water extraction, and equipment drop-off.
In 2012, Musk said that the first manned mission to Mars will have fewer than ten people, reported Inverse. However, it seems that that number has increased to 12. The billionaire said that these volunteers will start building and troubleshooting the propellant plant and what is Musk calling "The Mars Base Alpha" power system.
It's also important to remember that this voyage poses a lot of risks to the men and women who will be going on these missions. Musk himself said that the fatality is very high and people who will journey to the red planet will go there knowing that it will probably be a one-way trip.
The spacecraft that would be ferry these heroes is being called as the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS). But Musk said in the Reddit AMA that it needs a new name offering acronyms like the BFS and the BRS.
Regardless of what it's called the spacecraft will be capable of carrying up to 100 people to the red planet - a voyage that could last 180 days. The rocket that will boost the craft itself into orbit will stand 400 feet tall - the largest ever designed - and will be reusable for future missions.
