What is Elon Musk’s overarching ambition for space, framed as an existential imperative?

Answer

Transforming humanity into a multi-planetary species

The core ambition driving Elon Musk's space efforts is explicitly defined as transforming humanity into a multi-planetary species. This goal is presented not merely as a typical governmental objective like scientific discovery or gaining prestige, but as an existential imperative. This perspective frames the colonization of other worlds as necessary life insurance for the continuation of human consciousness, mitigating the single point of failure represented by confining all life to Earth against potential extinction-level events. This ultimate objective dictates the extreme requirements placed upon vehicle development, such as the need for drastically reduced transportation costs and sustained presence capabilities.

What is Elon Musk’s overarching ambition for space, framed as an existential imperative?
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