Elon Musk is aiming to colonize Mars as a backup measure in case Earth is destroyed by any catastrophic event. The billionaire CEO of SpaceX want to take one million people to the red planet at an affordable price of $200,000 per person at most.
Business Insider revealed that Elon Musk detailed his colonization scheme, which involves four phases. He explained how his Interplanetary Transport System, consisting of rockets, fuel pods, space ships and other components would accomplish the task, at the International Astronomical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico.
According to Elon Musk, the first step involves sending Dragon scouting missions, hopefully in 2018, to ensure that they can land on Mars without making a crater and finding the best means to introduce water for the Sabatier Reaction. Elon Musk explained that the missions will also provide more information on the technologies required to land huge payloads propulsive on Mars, as well as the total Mars colonization architecture.
Elon Musk wrote on Reddit that the second phase will include a fuel pod spaceship filling the tanks of a crewed ITS spaceship. Elon Musk plans to build the pieces of a full-scale methane fuel factory.
The depot will refuel the ITS spaceships so that these can return to Earth. Building a propellant plant on Mars will allow the steady arrival and return of spaceships between the two planets.
The third phase in Elon's Musk's plan will launch the first crewed mission with equipment that will create the rudimentary base and finish the propellant plant. The base will have power, grow food, recycle water, and produce oxygen, among other things.
Elon Musk revealed that the first colony on Mars will be named Mars Base Alpha. After it is built, colonists will use their habitats as a homebase to complete the fuel factory.
The final step will have them attempt to double the number of flights between Earth and Mars, until the city can grow independently. Any colony may only require 10,000 volunteers for basic genetic viability.
Elon Musk is keen on building a city on Mars, instead of mere survival. However, Elon Musk cautioned that the initial trips to colonize Mars will be highly risky.
