Science & technology | Dont stop him nowCan Musk put man on Mars?Whether successful or not, his attempt to do so will reshape Americas space programmePhotograph: Alamy Mar 27th 2025HUMAN LAWS can be changed, waived or broken. Physical laws are less biddable. When it comes to putting humans on Mars, which he sees as the first step towards the planets settlement and humankinds salvation, Elon Musk now has little to worry about from human law. Mr Musk has overseen the gutting of the FAA, Americas aviation authority and a sometime obstacle to his company SpaceX, by his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). What is more, he stands at the side of an American president who, as well as having little regard for legal strictures, explicitly endorses Mr Musks Martian agenda. In his inaugural address President Donald Trump declared that it was time for Americans to pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars. This was not a one-off. He repeated the aspiration in his address to Congress six weeks later. Explore moreThis article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline Dont stop him nowFrom the March 29th 2025 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the editionReuse this content