For more than two decades, Elon Musk has been dedicated to making life on Mars a reality through his space technology company, SpaceX. As he accelerates his efforts to establish a human presence on the Red Planet, the tech mogul’s ambitions for the coming decade are both bold and complex. By 2030, Musk envisions a self-sustaining Martian city, populated by a million people.

Musk’s vision: turning the dream of colonizing Mars into reality

In recent discussions with SpaceX employees, Musk reportedly prioritized designing the infrastructure needed for Martian colonization. As such, teams are currently working on plans for dome-based habitats and advanced spacesuits to protect against Mars’ harsh environment.

This news comes after Musk previously estimated that it would take between 40 and 100 people to create a self-sustaining civilization on the Red Planet. However, he now suggests that a city hosting a million settlers could be operational within the next 20 years, a significant acceleration of his timetable.

Additionally, a medical team was sent to study the feasibility of human reproduction on Mars, with Musk reportedly offering his sperm to help establish the colony (although the 53-year-old SpaceX founder has denied these claims).

Ultimately, Musk’s end goal is for humanity to become a “multi-planetary species” to ensure the long-term survival of civilization. Establishing a successful colony on Mars while humanity is still thriving is crucial to our future.

Musk’s role in shaping space exploration policy

In light of these growing goals, Musk is certain to advance his vision through his role as co-head of the new Department of Government Effectiveness, an organization created by United States President-elect Donald Trump. This falls outside the traditional boundaries of government and is supposed to help reduce “excessive spending.” Tellingly, these reductions could lay the groundwork for increased funding for space exploration initiatives.

Indeed, while Musk is expected to influence space policy under the Trump administration, he could revise regulatory frameworks that challenge SpaceX’s operations. While cost-cutting initiatives could streamline some processes, they also risk putting critical programs at risk. This includes NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon, serving as a stepping stone to Mars.

Key to Musk’s plan is the Starship HLS rocket, designed to carry multiple missions to Mars. Its success is based not only on cutting-edge rocket technology, but also on generating revenue through activities such as the provision of satellite internet by SpaceX’s Starlink division.

In other words, if Musk can maintain a stable cash flow, it will allow continued investment in Mars exploration and infrastructure.

Is Musk’s timetable for colonizing Mars realistic?

Still, Musk’s plans for Mars face significant challenges. Given that no humans have ever landed there, NASA predicts that a crewed landing could take place in the 2040s. Even though the SpaceX founder aims to launch uncrewed missions as early as 2026, reaching Mars is no guarantee not necessarily the creation of an autonomous city.

Scientific experts also question Musk’s ambitious timeline. They argue that even if regular flights are possible, creating such a city by 2030 is unrealistic. After all, critical technologies, such as resource utilization for fuel and life support systems, are still in the early stages of development.

It is clear that before Musk can consider colonizing Mars, he will need another decade or so to establish reliable investment channels, develop and perfect sustainable technologies, and gain the political and public support necessary to advance his monumental vision.

Only time will reveal the viability of Musk’s grand ambitions to rule Mars. As challenges mount, collaboration and innovation will be essential. For now, the dream of a Martian city remains an inspiring, if distant, goal.