SpaceX CEO and visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk has once again ignited discussions about humanity’s future, warning that it is only a "matter of time" before Earth faces a catastrophic asteroid impact. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Musk laid out his concerns about planetary threats while doubling down on his mission to establish a human presence on another planet—most notably Mars.
Musk has long championed the idea of humanity becoming a "multi-planetary species," but his latest comments suggest an even greater sense of urgency. On the podcast, he explained that throughout Earth’s history, asteroid impacts have repeatedly caused mass extinctions and significant planetary changes.
According to Musk, the question is not if another asteroid will strike, but when.
“We’re basically sitting ducks,” Musk told Rogan. “There are countless space rocks out there, and even though we have some ability to track them, we’re nowhere near prepared enough if a big one comes our way. It’s a matter of time before we’re hit, and if we don’t have a backup plan, we’re done.”
Musk pointed to past asteroid impacts, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago. While NASA and other space agencies track near-Earth objects (NEOs), Musk stressed that even a smaller asteroid could cause immense destruction if it were to hit a populated area or trigger a massive tsunami.
The billionaire engineer sees one clear solution—moving beyond Earth. Musk has been outspoken about his belief that humanity must establish a sustainable settlement on Mars or another celestial body to ensure the survival of our species.
Through SpaceX, he has already taken major steps toward achieving this goal, with the development of the Starship rocket, which he envisions as the vessel that will one day transport humans to the Red Planet.
“We need to be a multi-planetary civilization. We need a second planet where we can sustain human life, because if we stay on Earth forever, we’re just waiting for the inevitable,” Musk explained.
“Mars is the best option we have right now, but in the long run, we should be looking at other places too.”
Musk outlined his long-term vision, which includes sending the first humans to Mars within the next decade, establishing an early colony, and eventually building a self-sustaining city.
He acknowledged the immense challenges, including radiation exposure, food production, and the harsh Martian environment, but insisted that overcoming these obstacles is essential.
“It won’t be easy. It’s going to be tough, dangerous, and at times miserable. But so was every great human exploration. The alternative is to do nothing and wait for disaster,” Musk said.
SpaceX has already achieved remarkable milestones in space exploration, including reusable rockets, the first privately developed spacecraft to reach orbit, and partnerships with NASA for crewed space missions. With the Starship project, Musk is aiming for a fully reusable spacecraft capable of carrying large numbers of people and cargo to Mars.
The company has already conducted test flights of Starship prototypes, and while setbacks have occurred, Musk remains confident that the technology will be ready for deep-space travel within the next decade.
Beyond Mars, Musk also spoke about the possibility of exploring other celestial bodies, such as Jupiter’s moon Europa or Saturn’s moon Titan, which may harbor conditions suitable for life. However, he emphasized that Mars remains the most practical first step.
Musk’s warnings about asteroid threats align with growing concerns in the scientific community. NASA has taken steps to prepare for potential asteroid impacts, including the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, which successfully altered the trajectory of an asteroid in 2022.
However, Musk argues that current planetary defense measures are not enough.
“We have some cool asteroid detection systems, but deflection? That’s still in early stages,” he explained. “If we spotted a big one heading our way tomorrow, I don’t think we’d be able to stop it. We need to be proactive.”
Musk has suggested that developing asteroid deflection technologies should be a global priority, but he remains convinced that the safest long-term strategy is to ensure that humanity does not rely on Earth alone.
Musk’s latest warning serves as a wake-up call for those who dismiss the need for space exploration. While skeptics argue that colonizing Mars is an expensive fantasy, Musk insists that the risks of staying confined to Earth are too great to ignore.
“If we get hit by a planet-killer asteroid, none of this will matter—politics, economies, wars, everything,” Musk said. “We need to think long-term. If we can create a civilization on another world, we ensure that human consciousness doesn’t just disappear.”
While the idea of Mars colonization may seem like science fiction today, Musk’s vision is already taking shape through the relentless efforts of SpaceX. Whether or not humanity will take the necessary steps to secure its future before disaster strikes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Musk is determined to push forward, no matter the obstacles.
