Your probability of dying on Mars is much higher than earth. Really, the ad for going to Mars would be like Shackleton's ad for going to the Antarctic: "It's gonna be hard. There's a good chance of death, going in a little can through deep space. You might land successfully. Once you land successfully, you'll be working nonstop to build the base."

I thought about the things that will truly affect humanity. I came up with three: the internet, sustainable energy and space travel.

If humanity doesn't land on Mars in my lifetime, I would be very disappointed.

The future of humanity is going to bifurcate in two directions: Either it's going to become multiplanetary, or it's going to remain confined to one planet and eventually there's going to be an extinction event.

Peace can endure only so long as humanity really insists upon it, and is willing to work for it-and sacrifice for it.

Of course the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up.