Better than Killing Each Other! Musk and Russia to Mars, By Brian Simpson

Here's my case arguing that Elon Musk joining forces with Russia for a Mars mission, as outlined in the Natural News.com article "Russia Proposes Joint Mars Mission with Elon Musk"

https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-03-19-russia-proposes-mars-mission-with-elon-musk.html

is a far superior path for humanity than plunging into nuclear war. The argument hinges on cooperation over conflict, progress over destruction, and a shared future versus mutual annihilation.

The Natural News article lays out a bold vision: Russia, through Kirill Dmitriev of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, proposes a joint manned Mars mission with Elon Musk's SpaceX by 2029. This isn't just a sci-fi pipe dream—it's a lifeline for humanity that trumps the apocalyptic nightmare of nuclear war. While tensions between the U.S. and Russia simmer, with Ukraine as a flashpoint, this collaboration offers a chance to channel rivalry into something epic: landing humans on the Red Planet. Here's why it's a no-brainer compared to blowing ourselves to smithereens.

The article highlights a recent SpaceX Dragon mission that brought American and Russian astronauts back from the ISS together—a rare win amid political frost. Dmitriev calls Musk a "visionary leader" and nods to the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission, the first U.S.-Soviet space handshake during the Cold War. That precedent proves space can bridge divides when Earth's leaders are at each other's throats. A Mars mission builds on that, turning foes into partners with a common goal: pushing humanity's frontier. Nuclear war? It's the opposite—decades of mistrust erupting into a fireball that leaves nothing to build on, just rubble and regret. Cooperation saves us; conflict ends us.

Musk's dream, echoed in the article, is to make humanity multiplanetary—insurance against Earth's disasters. SpaceX's Starship is gearing up for Mars, and Russia's Roscosmos brings decades of know-how (think Soyuz reliability) plus Rosatom's nuclear tech, which could power a Martian base. Dmitriev's pitch is clear: combine Russian expertise with Musk's innovation, and we're on Mars by 2029, a leap that could spark breakthroughs in energy, robotics, and survival tech. Nuclear war, though? It's a reset button to the Stone Age—cities levelled, supply chains gone, billions dead or starving. The article's nod to "minds and technologies serving humanity" rings true: Mars is a future worth fighting for, not a past we'd die to escape.

A joint Mars mission isn't cheap—SpaceX's Starship tests and Russia's space budget run into billions—but it's an investment with a payoff: new science, jobs, maybe even Martian resources like water ice or rare metals. The article frames it as a "transformative" collaboration, leveraging private-sector grit and state-backed muscle. Nuclear war's price tag? Trillions in damage, per a 2022 Rutgers study estimating 5 billion dead from famine alone after a U.S.-Russia exchange. And for what? No winners, just survivors picking through ash. Musk and Russia pooling cash for Mars beats burning it in a mushroom cloud any day.

Dmitriev's words—"our minds and technologies must serve for the benefit of humanity, not its destruction"—hit the bullseye. The article ties this to Musk's ethos: moving humanity forward together. A Mars landing would be a global flex—proof we can unite for something bigger than borders. Imagine the headlines: "U.S. and Russia Conquer Mars!" Compare that to "Nuclear Winter Begins"—one inspires, the other terrifies. Psychologically, a joint mission lifts us up; war drags us into despair. Kids could dream of being astronauts, not hunker in bunkers.

Musk's long-game, per the article, is humanity's survival beyond Earth. Russia's in—Dmitriev sees Musk as a "unique leader" for this cause. If a comet, systems collapse, or, yes, war threatens Earth, Mars is Plan B. Nuclear war kills that dream dead—fallout chokes the planet, and no one's launching rockets from a wasteland. A 2023 Nature study pegs a full-scale nuclear exchange at 90 percent of humanity wiped out in a decade. Mars with Russia keeps hope alive; nukes snuff it out.

The Natural News piece sketches a path where Musk and Russia turn rivalry into rockets, landing us on Mars by 2029. It's not perfect—politics could derail it—but it's a lifeline. Nuclear war's the alternative: instant devastation, no redo. One's a legacy of triumph; the other's a tombstone. Sceptics might scoff at Mars as a long shot, but it's a gamble with a prize—unlike war, where we all lose.

Give me Musk, Russia, and the Red Planet over silos and sirens every time!

https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-03-19-russia-proposes-mars-mission-with-elon-musk.html

Russia proposes a joint manned Mars mission with SpaceX by 2029, announced by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

The proposal follows SpaceX's recent Dragon mission, which showcased U.S.-Russia collaboration in space despite political tensions.

Dmitriev praised Elon Musk as a visionary leader and referenced the historic 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission as inspiration for renewed cooperation.

SpaceX's Starship, set for a Mars mission in 2026, aligns with Russia's efforts to develop Mars-specific space technology.

While geopolitical tensions and sanctions complicate the proposal, Dmitriev sees space exploration as a potential diplomatic bridge.

Russia has proposed collaborating with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on a joint manned mission to Mars by 2029. The proposal, announced by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, comes at a time when private sector innovation in space exploration is increasingly seen as a bridge for international cooperation.

The timing of the announcement coincides with the recent successful SpaceX Dragon mission, which carried both American and Russian astronauts back to Earth, underscoring the potential for collaboration despite political differences.

Dmitriev, a key figure in Russian diplomacy and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, praised Musk as a "unique leader" focused on advancing humanity. "We believe that Musk is a unique leader who is focused on humanity moving forward together," Dmitriev said during a business forum in Moscow. "His focus is on the fact that we must move forward creatively—of course, we see this, and he is one of the greatest leaders of our time."

A history of space collaboration

The proposal harkens back to the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project of 1975, the first joint U.S.-Soviet space mission, which marked a rare moment of cooperation during the Cold War. Dmitriev referenced this milestone in a public message, asking, "Will 2029 be the year of a joint U.S.-Russian mission to Mars, Elon Musk? Our minds and technologies must serve for the benefit of humanity, not for its destruction."

The announcement also aligns with recent developments in Russia's space program, including reports of efforts to develop a specialized Mars space suit. Russian media have framed these initiatives as part of a broader push to position the country as a willing partner in future space exploration endeavors.

SpaceX's role in international diplomacy

Elon Musk's SpaceX has become a cornerstone of modern space exploration, with NASA relying heavily on the company for missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond. The recent SpaceX Dragon mission, which safely returned American and Russian astronauts to Earth, serves as a tangible example of how private sector innovation can facilitate international cooperation.

Musk has long championed the idea of making humanity a multiplanetary species, with Mars as a key destination. Earlier this year, he confirmed that SpaceX's Starship — the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed — is set to head to Mars in 2026, carrying Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus. Musk has also suggested that humans could reach Mars by 2029, though he acknowledged that 2031 is a more realistic target.

While the proposal for a joint Mars mission is ambitious, it remains unclear whether Musk will entertain the idea. SpaceX has not publicly commented on Dmitriev's remarks, and the geopolitical landscape between the U.S. and Russia remains filled with tension. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine led to the suspension of joint space projects with the European Space Agency (ESA), and Dmitriev himself remains under U.S. sanctions.

However, Dmitriev's overture highlights the potential for space exploration to serve as a diplomatic tool. "I think that there will undoubtedly be a discussion with Musk [about Mars flights] in the near future," he said, emphasizing Russia's desire to strengthen its space agency, Roscosmos, through collaboration with SpaceX.

As SpaceX's Starship prepare for its maiden voyage to Mars, Russia's proposal for a joint mission underscores the transformative power of private sector innovation in bridging international divides. While political tensions between the U.S. and Russia persist, the shared goal of exploring the cosmos offers a rare opportunity for collaboration. Whether this olive branch leads to a historic partnership remains to be seen, but perhaps the stars hold the key to thawing even the iciest of earthly rivalries."