| > I don't know how I can spell this out for people This part is unfair -- way too simplistic and dismissive. Elon is not drug-addled. He has high executive function, and is very consistent about his big ideas. Elon is simply a smart guy with wild ideas (so far, so common) but, crucially, he commands and commits enormous resources toward his best attempts at making them happen. That's what sets him apart from you and me, and it's a big deal. He deserves a lot of credit for the logistical success of diverting US government tax revenue to his attempts. This article is a good summary of why the Mars thing is implausible. I love the phrase "Frozen Airless Radioactive Desert Hell" and hope FARDH becomes a thing. For Elon to be right about Mars (at least on anything near his timeline), a lot of sufficiently-advanced technology will have to be invented soon. If there's a 1% chance of him being right, maybe there's a reasonable amount of public funding for it. TBF, even if there's a 0% chance, there are probably enabling technologies that will succeed, and have enough value to make the investment worthwhile. |