“Critically on the [International Space Station], humans are there to help and fix the robot when it inevitably falters,” Hubicki said. “On Mars, there are no humans to rescue it, and replacement parts are a nightmare to ship in.”

Musk will likely stay committed to the Mars-settlement goal over the long haul, as it has long been a driving force for him and SpaceX. Indeed, Musk has stressed that he founded the company in 2002 primarily to help humanity expand its footprint beyond Earth.

Elon Musk says he will rocket Optimus bots on Space X's first Starships sent to Mars, but a leading robotics scholar predicts their space odyssey will be short-lived.

Most parents like to think their kid is a genius — but Maye Musk might actually have the bragging rights. Her son, Elon Musk, isn't just a high-profile CEO or an inventor obsessed with Mars. He is, without question, the richest man in the world — and the first person in history to surpass a $500 billion net worth.