Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized that either humanity must establish civilization on other planets, or one day, a catastrophic event will occur on Earth that will bring an end to life.
A comet could destroy everything in an instant—our civilization, science, and all that has taken thousands of years to develop—and then, after millions of years, everything would have to start again from zero.
Musk believes this prediction can be made based on history, as massive comets have collided with Earth in the past and wiped out life multiple times.
In a recent post, Musk once again reiterated his belief that if we want to preserve our existence, we must become a spacefaring civilization.
A spacefaring civilization means that humans should not remain confined to Earth but should also promote life on other planets. Musk says, “Either we become a spacefaring civilization, or we die.” According to him, life-destroying events on Earth—like a comet collision or the sun’s expansion—are bound to happen in the future. He clarifies that it is only a matter of when, not if.
In a 2017 article published in the academic journal New Space, Musk wrote that history can split in two directions:
In one, we stay on Earth forever, but eventually, a catastrophic event will end all life.
In the other, we become a spacefaring civilization and extend life to multiple planets.
Musk dreams of one day building a self-sustaining city on Mars, so that if a major disaster strikes Earth—like a comet impact or a third world war—human life will still survive. He believes that keeping life confined to Earth is not wise. If we become a multi-planetary civilization, then destruction on a single planet will not be enough to wipe out life completely.
The importance of this vision lies in the fact that it is not just about protecting human life, but the life
of all species.