Elon Musk has expressed skepticism about humans reaching Mars in his lifetime. Speaking at the Satellite 2020 conference, he noted, “If it’s taken us 18 years just to get ready to do the first crewed flight, we must speed up our innovation to make it to Mars before I die.” This statement reflects a harsh reality, emphasizing that while a Mars mission is possible in the coming decades, a fully developed colony suitable for non-essential personnel is unlikely within our lifetimes.

### The Costs of Space Travel:
– Musk estimates that moving to Mars could eventually cost under $500,000 per person; in 2023 dollars, that translates to approximately $600,000.
– For an average US worker earning around $56,940 per year, this means saving for 15 years to afford a ticket to Mars, assuming stable incomes and inflation.

### Settlement Feasibility:
– Building a Mars colony comes with significant challenges. Musk predicted it could cost $100 billion to establish a settlement, potentially rising to $200 billion when factoring inflation and rising costs of materials.
– The price to transport materials to Mars is expected to be about $200,000 per ton.

### Concerns and Delays:
– Despite technological advancements, there are concerns about the pace at which progress is being made. Musk believes a Mars trip could happen as early as 2050 but notes that this is an optimistic estimate given current setbacks faced by NASA and SpaceX.
– Furthermore, economic interests may prioritize lunar operations and resources over Mars exploration, leading to delays in human missions to the Red Planet.

Brad Bergan’s new book, “SpaceX: Elon Musk and the Final Frontier,” delves deeper into Musk’s vision for space exploration and the economic factors influencing it. It offers insights into the evolution of commercial space travel and the potential riches lurking in asteroids, which could complicate the timeline for human colonization of Mars.