London, United Kingdom – Renowned physicist and musician Prof. Brian Cox is setting his sights on space, expressing his willingness to boldly venture where no British TV presenter has gone before. Despite not securing the funds or a ticket just yet, Prof. Cox eagerly awaits an opportunity to travel to space, especially if approached by Elon Musk, the owner of the US aerospace company SpaceX.
In a recent interview ahead of his new BBC Two series delving into the Solar System, Prof. Cox emphasized his belief in the potential for humanity to expand beyond Earth. With the progress being made by commercial space companies like SpaceX, Prof. Cox envisions a future where we become a multi-planetary and interstellar civilization.
While Prof. Cox has yet to journey into space, billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman and the crew of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn recently made history by conducting the first private spacewalk. This milestone mission, endorsed by Nasa, signified a significant advancement for the commercial space industry.
Preferring a collaborative approach between government agencies like Nasa and private companies such as SpaceX, Prof. Cox stresses the importance of affordable and reliable access to space. He advocates for the exploration and utilization of resources beyond Earth, sharing Blue Origin’s vision of a future where industries are relocated to space to minimize harm to our planet.
Addressing the necessity for humanity to evolve into a multi-planetary civilization, Prof. Cox highlights the importance of initiatives like asteroid mining. Despite acknowledging challenges in achieving this goal as a civilization, he believes it is our duty to explore not only our Solar System but also the vast Milky Way galaxy.
As the host of a new series focusing on space exploration, Prof. Cox integrates the latest mission updates, such as Nasa’s forthcoming Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa. Scientists believe this icy moon may contain conditions conducive to simple life forms, potentially shedding light on the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Reflecting on his career in the realm of space exploration and science communication, Prof. Cox humbly acknowledges the legendary Sir David Attenborough as a trailblazer in the field. With Sir David’s enduring legacy, Prof. Cox recognizes that there can never truly be a successor to someone who pioneered the genre, likening it to succeeding Neil Armstrong as the first person to walk on the Moon.
In his quest for knowledge and discovery, Prof. Cox invites viewers to join him in exploring the wonders of the Solar System in his upcoming series, airing on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.