Elon Musk says SpaceX was founded to make “Star Trek” a reality

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said his company is ultimately focused on interstellar travel with the goal of enabling humanity to encounter extraterrestrial civilizations.

“We want to make Star Trek real,” the entrepreneur said, adding that what appears to be science fiction today could one day become scientific reality.

The New York Times previously reported on Musk’s detailed planning around Mars colonization, noting that SpaceX teams were developing designs for domed habitats and specialized spacesuits for survival on the Red Planet.

A separate group of doctors was reportedly studying the possibility of human reproduction in Martian conditions, with Musk himself prepared to provide genetic material for a future colony.

Musk later denied reports that SpaceX had concrete plans to colonize Mars. He now speaks openly about even more ambitious goals: seeking contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.