SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested on a Wednesday episode of Senator Ted Cruz's podcast that while humans may not find living aliens on Mars, they could uncover the "ruins of a long-dead alien civilization" when they arrive on the planet—potentially within the next five years.
Why It Matters
Musk, whose company recently rescued NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station, has long pushed for his vision of colonizing Mars.
Musk's close ties to President Donald Trump, particularly in his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is focused on cutting waste and shrinking the federal government—have raised concerns about SpaceX's growing influence on U.S. space policy.
Some lawmakers worry that Musk could steer NASA's priorities further in SpaceX's favor, potentially sidelining competitors like Boeing and creating conflicts of interest.
What To Know
On a Wednesday episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican's podcast, Musk shared his insights on humans landing on Mars soon.
"What year does man first step foot on Mars," Cruz asked the SpaceX chief, who responded that the soonest would be in 2029, just four years from now.
Cruz followed up by then asking "What do you put the odds of finding either alien life or evidence of alien life [on Mars]?"
"I don't think we are going to find aliens," Musk said, adding, "We may find the ruins of a long-dead alien civilization, that's possible. And we may find subterranean microbial life, that's possible."
He also advocated for building a "self-sustaining city on Mars as quickly as possible," predicting it would likely take around 20 years and require "a million people, maybe a million tons of cargo."
SpaceX's Starship is designed to go to Mars. In January, Musk applauded the rocket and posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Mars is The New World."
Elon Musk flashes his t-shirt that reads "DOGE" to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025. Elon Musk flashes his t-shirt that reads "DOGE" to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
What People Are Saying
Roger Wiens, a geologist professor at Purdue University previously told Newsweek: "We have known for a long time that Mars had lakes and rivers, but many people suspect that temperatures were still quite cold, given Mars' distance from the sun." He later added, "Our confirmation of kaolinite rocks on Mars is further evidence that our sister planet had a very suitable climate in which microbial life could have existed. It justifies our search for ancient life on the Red Planet."
Musk said on X on March 15: "Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely."
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy, said at a business forum in Moscow on Tuesday: "Our vision for cooperation with Musk goes beyond just Mars—it's about leveraging the strong expertise within Roscosmos and Rosatom, which could contribute to making a Mars mission more efficient and safer. I believe this dialogue will continue."
What Happens Next
Musk has said SpaceX's Starship is expected to head to Mars in the near future, likely by the end of 2026. The first flight will be uncrewed, with later missions carrying humans.
