4 ms·

This is just a wild guess, but could there be more to it than just solving traffic problems? I mean, the best solution for a permanent settlement on Mars would

by metafex 10y ago

This is just a wild guess, but could there be more to it than just solving traffic problems? I mean, the best solution for a permanent settlement on Mars would be underground, as to shield from radiation etc. It's a funny thought, but it would make sense to aquire experience with large earth-moving operations to improve on the technology and study the feasibility.

AYBABTME 10y ago
Pretty sure he stated that being a large reason why they're doing that.
wyldfire 10y ago
s/earth/dirt/ ;)
- itp 10y ago
  I think it'll be neat to continue to use the word "earth" as a quaint anachronism in some long distant future. A great opportunity to explain to kids that humanity was once limited to a single astronomical body... (The optimist in me is leaking out.)
  - btkramer9 10y ago
    When I was a child and learned the name of our planet was Earth, I was extremely disappointed. How could we possible name our own planet after something as boring as 'dirt'?
  - oblio 10y ago
    Heh... Horsepower. Candela. We have a lot of precedents ;)
AJ007 10y ago
It is also possible the tunnels could be privately financed and owned, which could have long term advantages for Tesla.
- namlem 10y ago
  I doubt it. Public contracts would be the bulk, if not the overwhelming majority of their business. Just like with SpaceX, which relies heavily on NASA and USAF contracts.
ceejayoz 10y ago
It's just a cover for his actual Bond villain goal of building some ICBM silos.
rwhitman 10y ago
Ah, the underground Mars colony. It was confusing to me as to why this was so relevant to SpaceX that they'd not only take away engineering resources from other projects, but also start ripping up their parking lot to experiment. If you want to build a radiation-shielded settlement on Mars, the best bet is to dig. But how do you dig on Mars? Just as Tesla & SpaceX solve the question of electric power in space, this project starts to solves the underground colony question...

by metafex 10y ago

AYBABTME 10y ago

Pretty sure he stated that being a large reason why they're doing that.

wyldfire 10y ago

s/earth/dirt/ ;)

itp 10y ago
I think it'll be neat to continue to use the word "earth" as a quaint anachronism in some long distant future. A great opportunity to explain to kids that humanity was once limited to a single astronomical body... (The optimist in me is leaking out.)
- btkramer9 10y ago
  When I was a child and learned the name of our planet was Earth, I was extremely disappointed. How could we possible name our own planet after something as boring as 'dirt'?
- oblio 10y ago
  Heh... Horsepower. Candela. We have a lot of precedents ;)

AJ007 10y ago

It is also possible the tunnels could be privately financed and owned, which could have long term advantages for Tesla.

namlem 10y ago
I doubt it. Public contracts would be the bulk, if not the overwhelming majority of their business. Just like with SpaceX, which relies heavily on NASA and USAF contracts.

ceejayoz 10y ago

It's just a cover for his actual Bond villain goal of building some ICBM silos.

rwhitman 10y ago

Ah, the underground Mars colony. It was confusing to me as to why this was so relevant to SpaceX that they'd not only take away engineering resources from other projects, but also start ripping up their parking lot to experiment. If you want to build a radiation-shielded settlement on Mars, the best bet is to dig. But how do you dig on Mars? Just as Tesla & SpaceX solve the question of electric power in space, this project starts to solves the underground colony question...