SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk have their sights set on taking humans to Mars in the near future, and many of them involve traditional engineering challenges such as rocket fuel, engines and payload capacity. However, the creativity and entertainment that has been used in the mission by the commercial space company definitely puts it in front of industry peers. In the same spirit Musk now seems to be entertaining the official ‘Flag Mars f Mars’ design, and one of the first contenders is SpaceX’s flagship rocket, the Falcon 9.
Spaceflight photographer John Krauss recently shared a blog post on his Pattern account that gives insights into the ups and downs of his business. “I wrote an extended piece for my @ Patron supporters about capturing the Falcon 9 on Tuesday: how I did it, some (very) candid thoughts on the overwhelming reception of the photo and why scrubs are not only fun but also the right part of the process,” Krause said. Wrote on Twitter with the given photo.
In the post, Krauss was highlighting SpaceX’s recent Starlink launch, which was scrambled several times before successfully taking flight. The popularity of the photo, coupled with Musk’s acquaintance with his Rocket company’s regular photographers, both attracted the CEO’s attention and inspired a suggestion for the future of the image. “Maybe this should be the flag of Mars,” Musk tweeted.
Maybe this should be the flag of Mars
– Elon Musk (elonmusk) 8 October October, 2020
SpaceX has made significant progress in recent days with the starship, the company’s rocket, which will carry passengers to Mars. In early August of this year, the rocket’s full-scale prototype successfully launched about 500 feet into the air and landed in the same way as its brother, the Falcon 9. The 12-mile-high hop, for example, is ahead of schedule. Notably, a version of the starship intended for use on the moon is also in the works.
Musk has previously detailed his plans to build a city on the Red Planet by 2050 and fill it with a million people. To accomplish that goal, it will be necessary to build at least 1,000 starships, each with 100 people on the ferry and at least three launches each day. “Life requires orbits of megatons every year to become multi-planetary,” Musk explained earlier. The long journey also meant that entertainment plans were much needed, including a luncheon, mentioned when the CEO first introduced his long-term Mars vision.
SpaceX has also engaged in creative projects aimed at nearby locations in space, i.e. the moon. In a project called “Dear Moon”, the spaceflight company has partnered with the eccentric Japanese billionaire Yusuku Mezawa for a private chartered trip around our lunar neighbor in 2023. Artists are invited to apply for the opportunity to join the journey as a new resource. Inspiration for their work. Returning to the idea of a flag, perhaps engaging in public, would also be part of creating a real ‘flag of Mars’. While an idea is already underway, there will certainly be many more willing participants if given the opportunity.
