Imagining a Multiplanetary Future – Elon Musk's Impact on the Sustainability Discourse

Abstract

The expansion of human activities in space and their impact on sustainability has recently gained much attention due to the various ambitions led by private entities along with rapid technological advancements. Elon Musk, an influential space entrepreneur, proposes a future where space plays a crucial part in the survival of humanity, with Mars portrayed as a potential new home. This study aims to examine his imaginary of a multiplanetary society and to uncover its impact on the sustainability discourse by mapping how other actors engage with it. A mixed-method discourse analysis using 151 tweets of Elon Musk and 145,115 quote tweets from other users over the time period from 2011 until 2022 has been conducted. The analysis revealed that Elon Musk develops a socio-technical imaginary of making life multiplanetary which creates a rivalrous discourse to conventional understanding of sustainability. His future vision triggers a division among Twitter users in proponents and opponents. While proponents support the multiplanetary notion of sustainability by extending life beyond Earth to ensure its long-term survival, opponents contend that ‘planetary’ sustainability, which means staying within planetary boundaries, should take precedence. The implications of the findings suggest that sustainability discourses may increasingly embrace a focus on extending life beyond Earth, which could pose new challenges for policymaking and governance. Finally, this research project attempts to contribute to the understanding and the potential future implications of the emerging sustainability discourses at the earth-space interface.