Elon Musk: By Now, We Were Supposed to Have a Moon Base and Probably Even a Mars Base

Elon Musk: In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the expectation was that by now, we would have a moon base and probably even a Mars base.

“I think we made the wrong technological choices. There was also a lack of will at the highest levels of government to take the next step and at least stay on the moon and perhaps build a base there, and then go beyond the moon to Mars.

If you look at the news articles in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the expectation was that by now, in the 21st century, we would have a moon base and probably even a Mars base.

I think if you'd asked anyone at that point in time whether we would be unable to go to the moon and not have been to Mars, they would think you're crazy.”

PBS Science, 2007