In early 2021, The Atlantic published an article titled "Mars Is a Hellhole," criticizing Elon Musk's plans to colonize Mars. The article emphasized that Mars is inhospitable to humans and poses significant dangers, contrary to Musk's vision of establishing human habitation on the planet.
Despite this, astrophysicist Martin Rees, the author of "The End of Astronauts: Why Robots Are the Future of Exploration," said during a recent episode of Sam Harris' Making Sense podcast that people will embark on the journey if Elon Musk succeeds in constructing an affordable pathway.
Martin Rees envisions a scenario by the year 2100 where a small colony on Mars will predominantly consist of adventurous individuals, Nautilus reported. These pioneers would willingly bear the risks, financing their own journeys in pursuit of glory or a novel existence on the Red Planet.
However, Rees does not foresee the establishment of permanent research stations or military bases operated by national governments in the immediate future. Government space agencies, like NASA, will have shifted away from relying on taxpayer funding for costly missions that safeguard human astronauts during space exploration.
Instead, the focus will shift towards deploying advanced robotic technology for exploration, presenting a less risky and more affordable path with comparable scientific benefits. Consequently, most humans in space will likely be these daring colonists driven by the spirit of adventure.
Isolated from terrestrial regulatory bodies that might restrict radical experimentation, these intrepid settlers on Mars will leverage cutting-edge technology to transform themselves into genetically modified cyborgs, better adapted to survive Mars' harsh environment. Rees envisions that over time, these "crazy pioneers" could evolve into a distinct species.
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