It is not only SpaceX Elon Musk ambitious plan to have its first human landing on the Red Planet but of many others as well. The mission to colonize Mars in the near future is a grand, if not a crazy plan but can be possible. Although, wanting to have sent its Red Dragon robotic mission first but SpaceX is holding it until 2020 instead of 2018.
In a report by Fortune, Gwynne Shotwell the president of SpaceX announced during a press conference last Saturday, February 18 that the company is putting on hold its first mission. The main reason as declared is the refocusing of the priorities to other projects. However, there are also reports that one major reason for the delay could be the Falcon 9 explosion in September last year.
It can be remembered that Elon Musk had launched a noble crusade to colonize Mars within the next 40 to 100 years. According to TheVerge, the space technology entrepreneur is not the only one who is running after the ambitious quest. Many are even ahead of him in planning to get to Mars first as early as in the last 70 years.
One of Musk's closest competitor, if not ally in the Mars colonization movement is the US NASA, which is planning to send its astronauts in 2030. Mars One, a global initiative to establish human settlements on Mars as reported by Mars is another massive competitor.
This mission to Mars is not an easy and a one man's dream only but is a rally among Earth's population. Regardless, of who gets there first, as long as the first humans land there safely is a quantum leap for humankind. For more update on SpaceX Mars' missions, stay tuned to Telegiz.