Neil deGrasse Tyson says geopolitical shift needed for Mars mission

In an interview with Bill Maher, American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson discussed the feasibility of sending humans to Mars. He pointed out that significant undertakings in space exploration often arise from geopolitical motivations, rather than mere curiosity or exploration. Tyson emphasized that without a geopolitical reason, such as fears of competition from another nation like China planning to establish a military base on Mars, financing such extensive projects would be highly improbable. He argued that potential investors would likely be dissuaded by the costs involved, estimated at around $1 trillion, combined with the inherent risks to human life and uncertain returns on investment. Musk’s vision of using SpaceX's Starship to accomplish this feat relies heavily on resources from its Starlink satellite internet segment, which Musk believes will generate the necessary funding. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell mentioned the company conducted six test flights of the Starship and anticipates significant operational use in the coming years. Tyson concluded that the success of getting humans to Mars largely hinges on the fluctuations of international relations and perceived threats, a view that diverges from Musk's optimistic perspective that space travel can be propelled purely by ambition and innovation.