Elon Musk Shares Views on Alien Visitation and the Future of Humanity at 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference
Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of SpaceX, recently shared his thoughts on the possibility of aliens visiting Earth during a panel discussion at the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles. Musk expressed his skepticism about the idea, stating that despite the thousands of satellites operated by SpaceX in low Earth orbit, he has never seen any compelling evidence of extraterrestrial life or spacecraft operated by non-human intelligence.
During the conversation, Musk humorously pointed out the irony of people believing in aliens among us while also doubting the moon landing. He emphasized the importance of evidence, stating that if there is any concrete proof of alien visitation, he would be open to considering it.
Musk also raised concerns about the lack of evidence of alien civilizations exploring and settling the Milky Way galaxy, suggesting that perhaps such civilizations are rare and precarious. He emphasized the need to protect and preserve human civilization, likening it to a “tiny candle in a vast darkness.”
Despite Musk’s assertion that he has never encountered any evidence of aliens, it is worth noting that Starlink satellites regularly perform collision avoidance maneuvers to dodge debris or other spacecraft in orbit. Between June 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2023, Starlink satellites executed over 24,000 collision avoidance maneuvers, highlighting the importance of space traffic management.
Overall, Musk’s comments on the topic of alien visitation have sparked discussions about the search for extraterrestrial life and the future of humanity in the vast universe. As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the question of whether we are alone in the cosmos remains a fascinating and ongoing debate.