Why Elon Musk’s plan for life on Mars is a terrible idea

The Bunker

Podmasters

News, Politics, Society & Culture, Government

4.6 • 984 Ratings

🗓️ 7 March 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Elon Musk is one of many space nerds and sci-fi dreamers fascinated by living on Mars. But, is this just a terrible idea? And how bad would earth need to get for it to make any sense? Kelly Weinersmith, co-author of A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the cons of going to the red planet. Buy A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund The Bunker by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to https://indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit. https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:50.8	Mars or as many call it, the red planet has long fascinated space nerds and sci-fi
0:55.7	obsessives, and incredibly rich ones like Elon Musk are no exception.
1:00.4	The SpaceX boss has said the moon is a distraction, and despite setbacks he's set his sights
1:05.3	on reaching Mars.
1:07.1	Last year, he suggested that humans could land on the planet within four years, and be living in a self-sustaining city on its surface within 20.
1:14.6	Not many people agree, but since entering the White House,
1:17.6	Trump has given his backing to Musk's space pursuits.
1:20.6	So, are they feasible or even a good idea whatsoever?
1:24.6	I'm Jacob Jarvis, and joining me in the bunker is Dr. Kelly Wienersmith,
1:28.6	co-host of Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe and co-author of a city on Mars. Can we settle space?
1:35.1	Should we settle space? And have we really fought this through? Kelly, welcome to the bunker.
1:39.9	Thanks so much for having me. I'm excited to be here. Really excited to have you here, Kelly.
	...

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