
The Shocking Shift: Has Elon Musk Really Given Up on Mars?
2025-06-26
Author: Jessica Wong
In a surprising revelation, Peter Thiel claims that Elon Musk has abandoned his ambitious dream of colonizing Mars. During a recent interview with Ross Douthat for the New York Times, Thiel stated that Musk no longer views a Martian colony as a feasible political venture for humanity.
Thiel, a close friend and supporter of Trump, boldly declared, "2024 is the year Elon stopped believing in Mars," referencing a notable shift in Musk's perspective.
From Ideals to Technology: What's Changed?
For years, Musk's interplanetary ambitions have been at the forefront of his vision, often framed as a path to build a new society. However, Thiel argues that Musk now sees this grand idea primarily as a technological challenge, veering away from its ideological roots.
Previously, Musk had dreams of sending humans to Mars by 2028, touting colonization as crucial for ensuring the survival of civilization, especially in the event of catastrophic disasters on Earth.
Setbacks and Shifting Priorities
Following his exit from the Trump administration, Musk has focused more on SpaceX, but his ambitions faced a setback recently when a SpaceX Starship suffered a catastrophic failure and exploded.