> A SpaceX rocket goes boom, and you're not quite sure why? Time to announce the plan to colonize Mars.

This is just plain wrong, the Mars announcement was planned for a long time.

Also, Mars colonization was the reason he founded SpaceX.

However, the article raises a good point, colony on Mars is unlikely, because Earth is a much better place to live. Same reason why there's no big city in Antarctica or under the ocean - it's just a very shitty place to live. And Mars is much, much worse, plus it's hard to get there or back.

So, although I really enjoy the idea of a self-sufficient city on Mars, it just seems extremely unlikely.