Musk anticipates ruins or microbial life on Mars

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has shared his thoughts on the possibility of finding aliens on Mars. He spoke on a podcast hosted by Senator Ted Cruz and mentioned that while we may not discover living aliens, we could find the remnants of a dead alien civilization. He believes this could happen when humans arrive on Mars, possibly within the next five years. Musk's commitment to Mars colonization is well-known. He recently helped rescue NASA astronauts from the International Space Station and has strong connections to influential political figures. Some lawmakers are concerned that SpaceX's growing role might influence NASA’s decisions and priorities, rather than benefiting other U.S. space companies like Boeing. During the podcast, Musk predicted that the first human landing on Mars could happen in 2029. He expressed skepticism about finding active alien life but stated that discovering ancient ruins or microbial life below the surface was plausible. He emphasized the need to create a self-sustaining city on Mars, which he estimates could take about 20 years and require a million people and tons of supplies. Musk's plans are centered around SpaceX's Starship, which is being built for missions to Mars. He recently tweeted about his excitement for Mars, calling it "The New World." Experts, like geologist Roger Wiens, have noted that there is evidence Mars may have once had conditions suitable for life, intensifying the search for past life on the planet. While Musk aims to have an uncrewed mission to Mars by the end of 2026, he anticipates that human landings might begin as soon as 2029, though 2031 is more likely.