And Musk's focus on Mars as the next destination for humanity after low Earth orbit should come as no surprise; the billionaire has long had the Red Planet in his sights. In a December X post, for example, he dismissed the moon as "a distraction," saying that "we're going straight to Mars."

Elon Musk recently called for the ISS to be deorbited "as soon as possible." Experts say the station provides vital research, technological development and education