Elon Musk just said that his SpaceX spaceships will get humans to Mars by 2026, with or without NASA. It may seem cocky, but coming from a man who has built this entire company so he can die on Mars — and to “help ensure the survival of humanity” — those words are not to be taken lightly.

Talking today to CNBC, Musk said that he’s “hopeful that the first people could be taken to Mars in 10 to 12 years.”

I think it’s certainly possible for that to occur. But the thing that matters long term is to have a self-sustaining city on Mars, to make life multi-planetary.

A self-sustaining city… I like that he’s thinking big. I also like that he is conscious of the challenges that lie ahead, but confident that these targets are possible. He will be 50 years old by the time this hypothetical mission launches, giving him plenty of time to go there and complete his life dream. That kind of drive and commitment is too personal to ignore. People who are mad enough to think in these terms — and have the necessary means — are the people who can make the seemingly impossible happen.

Source: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/06/elon-m...