He may or may not buy MSNBC, but Elon Musk isn't taking any notice of Neil de Grasse Tyson for his Mars ambitions.
The businessman responded today to deGrasse Tyson's scathing comments on Bill Maher's Friday's “Overtime” about the possibility of going to Mars.
The two have been arguing over the Mars question for a long time. Musk sees the colonization of Mars as necessary for the survival of humanity, while Tyson sees it as secondary to solving Earth's current challenges. It's a debate that has raged between scientists and cultural observers since the beginning of space exploration in the last century.
In the latest controversy over Mars, Maher asked deGrasse Tyson how long it would take for Musk to “actually send people to Mars.” Maher played a long role for deGrasse Tyson, who insisted that we focus on improving the world.
“How bad can it be that we screw the f**k Earth up before it's worse than a place 200 below zero with no air and no water that takes six months to get to?!” Maher asked. Tyson shouted, “Preach it! Preach it”
“I have strong opinions about that,” deGrasse Tyson said. “My reading of the history of space exploration is that we only do big, expensive things when it's nationally appropriate, like when we feel threatened by the enemy. And just to say, let's go to Mars because it's the next thing to do. What does that venture capitalist meeting look like? 'So, Elon, what do you want to do?' 'I want to go to Mars?' 'How much will it cost?' '$1 trillion.' 'Is it safe?' 'No. People will probably die.' 'What is the return on investment?' 'Nothing.' That's a five-minute meeting. And it doesn't happen.”
“Sometimes one has to pay for it and being interested in something is not the same as paying for it.”
Musk responded on Saturday with an X, figuratively slapping his forehead in disbelief.
“Wow, they really don't get it. Mars is important for the long-term survival of consciousness. Also, I'm not going to ask any venture capitalists for money. I realize it doesn't make sense as an investment. That's why I'm collecting resources.”
Musk then went into a dark mood, questioning deGrasse Tyson's motives for his comments.
“The real problem is that Neil decided to go left when he was hit with #MeToo. You can avoid cancellation if you ask for forgiveness and push back on their ridiculous ideas. The truth hurts.”
The billionaire continued to make his case for a Mars venture.
“Even if we fail to create a Mars colony that can grow without continuous support from Earth, the absurdly ambitious nature of the mission nevertheless results in the creation of a different level of technology that is much better than competitors aiming to orbit the Earth.”
The post Elon Musk and Neil deGrasse Tyson Exchange Barbs on Mars Colonization appeared first on TheWrap.
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