Elon Musk's Mars Dream vs Neil deGrasse Tyson's Realism

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson recently expressed skepticism about Elon Musk's plan to send people to Mars. On a recent episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher, " Tyson suggested that such a mission would only become feasible when governments see it as beneficial. He also hinted that the then-incoming President Trump might have some interest in Mars, but emphasized that someone needs to foot the bill. Elon Musk didn't hold back in his response. He argued that a trip to Mars isn't just about benefiting individual countries, but about ensuring the long-term survival of humanity's consciousness. Musk also made it clear that he isn't relying on venture capitalists for funding. Instead, he's gathering resources himself to make his vision a reality. SpaceX, Musk's company, has been working closely with NASA for years. They have a significant contract with the agency and have also worked with the Department of Defense, as reported by the New York Times. Earlier this year, Musk reiterated his ambition to make life "multiplanetary" with his Starship project. He also believes that his new role co-heading the Department of Government Efficiency with Vivek Ramaswamy is key to extending life beyond Earth.