Billionaire Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk is predicting he'll be ready to send his private-venture space vehicle on "short trips" early next year — and to Mars by 2022.
In remarks Sunday at South by Southwest, an annual technology and culture festival in Austin, Texas, Musk was optimistic about the timeline for his SpaceX vehicle, CNBC reported.
"We are building the first Mars, or interplanetary ship, and I think we'll be able to [have] short trips, flights by [the] first half of next year," he said in a question-and-answer session at the SXSW.
"Although sometimes, my timelines are a little, you know..." he said, to laughter, CNBC reported.
"The biggest thing that would be helpful is just general support and encouragement and goodwill," Musk said. "I think once we build it we'll have a point of proof something that other companies and countries can go and do. They certainly don't think it's possible, but if we do, they'll up their game."
Mars will need Glass domes, a power station and an assortment of basic living fundamentals, he told the crowd.
But after the infrastructure is complete, "then really the explosion of entrepreneurial opportunity [will begin] because Mars will need everything from iron foundries to pizza joints," he said, CNBC reported.
Musk also surprised some in the audience when asked about the source of his inspiration — and cited dancer Fred Astaire and Kanye West, CNBC reported.
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