Billionaire entrepreneur, engineer and Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, has a variety of ambitious projects underway, some of which have made huge leaps forward in recent months. Among the most important are Neuralink, the Tesla Cybertruck and Tesla Model 3, the Hyperloop and SpaceX’s project to reuse the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles, the Starship and its Super Heavy booster.
Neuralink, a start-up funded by Musk, is developing artificial intelligence that could potentially allow people to interact with computers using their minds. The idea is to implant tiny electrodes in the brain that could help correct medical conditions or allow for the easier control of computers or robots. It is hoped that early animal tests that have been taking place during 2020 can soon be extended to human subjects.
The Tesla Cybertruck is an upcoming full-electric pickup truck set to be released in 2021, with estimates at as early as the third quarter of 2021. It is set to have a 325-mile (523 km) range and is projected to be the first truck to challenge the traditional styling of the pickup market. Elon Musk also hopes that the Tesla Cybertruck will help make electric vehicles more popular.
The Tesla Model 3 electric car aims to put electric vehicles in the mass market, by producing a car with a range of 310 miles (500 km). It has already made electric cars more affordable and accessible, and is currently one of the bestselling electric cars in the world.
The Hyperloop is a mode of transport proposed by Musk in 2013, which uses electric propulsion and reduced air pressure tubes, to enable high-speed travel. It is estimated to be cheaper and faster than high-speed rail or air travel and a series of trials by companies such as HyperloopTT are currently underway.
SpaceX’s projects are perhaps the most ambitious. The company has successfully landed and reused the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket and is on track to reuse the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle’s first stage later in 2020. The project is potentially revolutionary and could reduce operating costs in space transport, making space exploration more affordable.
The Starship and its Super Heavy booster are SpaceX’s, and Musk’s, most recent and most ambitious project yet. The company hopes they will eventually take humans to space, eventually allowing them to explore planets far away. The Starship will be a fully reusable spacecraft and booster, aimed to reduce space travel costs to an unprecedented degree and possibly even making space tourism a reality in the future.
Musks’s Business Ventures
Elon Musk is also involved in various other business ventures. These include but are not limited to SolarCity, a solar energy company; Tesla Energy, a battery and energy plant manufacturer; and The Boring Company, which is working on tunnel-digging machines and underground infrastructure. Musk’s vision is to develop new technologies and sustainable energies which will help to support the continued growth of our economy.
Tesla’s Growing Influenece
Tesla is fast becoming one of the largest and most influential car companies in the world. Its electric cars are set to become the de facto choice for those wishing to go green and the company is making inroads in the fossil fuel-dependent automotive industry. Tesla’s rapid success has been attributed, in large part, to the leadership of Elon Musk and his ambition.
Musk’s Financials
Elon Musk has a net worth estimated at around $45 billion, largely made up of his shares in SpaceX, SolarCity and Tesla, as well as other smaller investments in ventures such as Hyperloop. In 2018, when Tesla’s share price increased by over 40%, Musk became, briefly, the richest man in the world.
Environmental Impact of Musk’s Projects
Musk’s projects have an overall positive environmental impact, as they are either aimed at producing renewable energy, such as solar power, or at reducing emissions by increasing the adoption of electric cars. The Starship is likely to be the first step in drastically reducing the cost of space travel, potentially eradicating the need for dirty fossil fuels in the space industry.
Musk’s Professional Background
Elon Musk hails from a professional background in engineering and business. He holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, one in physics and one in economics. He also holds a degree in business from Stanford University. It is his engineering and business acumen that has made him one of the most visionary and successful entrepreneurs of our time.
