The most powerful people in the world want to go to Mars. President Trump shouted Mars out in his inaugural address. His former bestie, Elon Musk, created SpaceX for the express reason of colonizing Mars. He thinks humanity needs a backup planet. But getting to Mars would be incredibly difficult. And living there would be even harder.
In a two-part series on Today, Explained, host Sean Rameswaram explores the politics of getting to Mars, why billionaires are so obsessed with space and how pretty much everything on the Red Planet would be working to kill the people who try to settle there.
It’s a delightful romp that touches on science, hubris, and the power of thinking big. Stories like these are made possible by our Vox Members. If you would like to support Vox’s independent journalism, please consider becoming a Vox Member today.
—Jolie Myers, Deputy Executive Producer, Today, Explained
