For Errol Musk, the real space race isn't about rockets or funding, it’s about mathematics. At the Forum of the Future 2050 , held in Mo...
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| For Errol Musk, the real space race isn't about rockets or funding, it’s about mathematics. |
"One hundred years ago," Errol said, "the best mathematicians in the world were focused on the mysteries of gravity. But somewhere along the way, we stopped. It’s like we looked away — and that may have cost humanity dearly." Musk's statement wasn’t just a nostalgic reflection — it was a challenge. While we have made incredible technological strides — from satellites to reusable rockets — Errol insists that without a fundamental breakthrough in understanding gravity, we will never achieve interstellar travel in the way we imagine. "The mission of the future will never happen unless we truly understand how gravity works," he emphasized. "Without that, we’ll be stuck in the same place a hundred years from now."
Drawing an analogy to the transition from steam engines to electric motors and combustion engines, Errol Musk noted that we’re still in the “steam age” of rocketry. Spacecraft are getting bigger and more complex, much like early machines powered by steam. Only a true shift in propulsion — perhaps guided by a new grasp of gravitational forces — can usher in the next era of spaceflight.
He recounted witnessing the launch of Starship — SpaceX’s towering rocket equivalent to a 40-story building. “It’s an extraordinary achievement,” he said, “but we mustn’t forget: we are still building bigger, not necessarily smarter. And that’s always a sign we’re waiting for a breakthrough.”
For Errol Musk, the real space race isn't about rockets or funding, it’s about mathematics. The country or group that unlocks the mathematics behind gravity, he says, will lead the future of space exploration. Just as nuclear energy was once a theoretical construct until breakthroughs in physics made it practical, the next giant leap in space will come when we can manipulate or overcome gravity — whether through propulsion, warp-like movement, or something currently unimaginable.
While the Moon remains the next logical milestone, even landing and building a station there remains a challenge without better gravitational modeling. “It’s not just about the technology,” Errol noted. “Even landing is a physical stress on the human body. Without deeper insight into gravitational physics, we are throwing people into dangerous unknowns.” The same applies to Mars. Despite years of work — including Errol’s own involvement decades ago — humanity is still in its early stages when it comes to safe, sustainable travel beyond Earth.
Errol Musk’s message is clear: scientists worldwide must turn their attention back to gravity — a subject once at the heart of physics but now overlooked in the race for rockets and hardware. "If we don't refocus on gravity," he warned, "everything we see in science fiction will remain fiction. It’s time to go back to the chalkboards."
The Forum of the Future 2050 is a landmark event, bringing together over 100 experts from across the globe and thousands of in-person and virtual attendees. Hosted in Moscow’s Lomonosov cluster, it is a platform for ambitious discussions about humanity’s future — in space, on Earth, and beyond.
As Tsargrad TV broadcasts live from the event, the world is invited to join the debate. The lectures and discussions are available online at any time on the official Forum of the Future 2050 website.
