Space entrepreneur Elon Musk weighed in on humanity’s endeavors beyond earth Tuesday after President Donald Trump signed a directive ordering NASA to focus on the moon and Mars.
“It is high time that humanity went beyond Earth,” Musk tweeted. “Should have a moon base by now and sent astronauts to Mars. The future needs to inspire.”
Trump signed an order Monday directing NASA administrator Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. to point the organization’s efforts toward human exploration, starting on the moon, according to New Scientist. The directive was issued on the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 17 moon landing.
“The directive I am signing today will refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery,” Trump said. “It marks an important step in returning American astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 for long-term exploration and use. This time, we will not only plant our flag and leave our footprint We will establish a foundation for an eventual mission to Mars and perhaps, someday, to many worlds beyond.”
Musk, the founder of private space company SpaceX, has long advocated for a base on the moon. During a June discussion at the International Space Station Research and Development conference in Washington D.C., Musk said a lunar base would aid in efforts to reach Mars.
“Having some permanent presence on another heavenly body, which would be the kind of moon base, and then getting people to Mars and beyond – that’s the continuance of the dream of Apollo that I think people are really looking for,” Musk said at the time.
Musk has frequently called for the colonization of Mars and released a plan this year claiming he would be able to put a million people on the Red Planet by sometime in the 2060s, according to National Geographic. During a September presentation at the International Astronautical Congress in Australia, he again railed against the fact that humanity had not yet established permanent residency on the moon.
“It’s 2017,” Musk said. “We should have a lunar base by now. What the hell’s going on?”
AmericanPixel on December 14th, 2017 at 00:46 UTC »
Elon's complaining about not having a moon base in 2017, I'm over here complaining that my City doesn't have electronic payment options for the water bill.
I have a check book for one reason...to pay my water bill. WTF!
CalebTGordan on December 13rd, 2017 at 22:56 UTC »
Time traveler from the future is confused as to why the timeline changed drastically. In his timeline there were moon bases by 2017, but that wasn't the only major change. He isn't sure who is responsible for all the screw ups, but he is dead on determined to fix it as quickly as possible.
Edit: Yes, Barry screwed up the timeline. I got it the fifth time.
____o_0____ on December 13rd, 2017 at 22:42 UTC »
"And where's my goddamned jet pack!? This whole 21st century thing is a complete letdown." <Proceeds to fix>