Musk Gives Update On BFR, Says First Mars Travelers Have A Good Chance Of Dying

Although SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is known to make vague statements and jokes on social media, the tech revolutionary has also attempted to keep expectations with regards to his companies at a minimum. With regards to the plans of his private space company, for example, Musk recently gave an encouraging update about Big Falcon Rocket (BFR). On the same day, he also gave a sobering preview of what the first travelers to Mars will likely have to deal with, including a good chance of death.

Musk gave his statements during a short-notice appearance at the South By Southwest (SXSW) conference, which was held in Austin, Texas, Space News reports. The SpaceX boss said that they were making good progress in the development of its biggest rocket, the unveiling and testing, of which, is highly anticipated all over the world.

The BFR is meant to be the cornerstone of the Mars mission plan since it is capable of carrying huge loads of cargo and passengers. It will launch from the Earth to either land on the Moon for a refuel or go straight for Mars. Before the company can actually get there, however, the rocket will first need to be built and then tested.

“We’re actually building that ship right now,” Musk said on the matter. “I think we’ll probably be able to do short flights, short sort of up-and-down flights, probably sometime in the first half of next year.”

Speaking of the Mars mission, Musk once again reiterated the need for humans to colonize other planets, BGR reports. One of the biggest goals of SpaceX is to make humanity a multi-planet species, capable of surviving anywhere aside from Earth.

Unfortunately, doing so will require taking risks and perhaps even sacrifice from those who will pioneer the effort. To the first travelers who will go to the red planet, Musk quotes the Shackleton ad meant for Antarctic explorers several decades ago, which reads “Difficult, dangerous, good chance you’ll die. Excitement for those who survive.”