Elon Musk and José Hernández Clash Over Mars Exploration Timeline

SpaceX's ambitious plans for Mars colonization face skepticism from experts citing significant technical challenges and the need for lunar base development.

José Hernández, a former NASA astronaut, estimates that human travel to Mars is at least 15 years away, citing technical hurdles and the necessity of a lunar base for testing technologies.
Elon Musk asserts that SpaceX could achieve human landings on Mars as early as 2029, with a self-sustaining city potentially established within 20 years of the first landing.
SpaceX recently demonstrated its operational capabilities by safely returning NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth after a nine-month mission on the International Space Station.
Musk envisions Mars colonization as essential for humanity's survival, proposing a city of one million people to ensure civilization's continuity in the event of Earth-based catastrophes.
Technical and logistical challenges, including radiation exposure, life support systems, and resource sustainability, remain significant barriers to Mars exploration and colonization.