The co-founder of OceanGate, which built the ill-fated "Titan" submersible, claims he can safely send humans to Venus by 2050. Guillermo Sonlein co-founded OceanGate in 2009 with Stockton Rush, who died last year when the "Titan" imploded while diving toward the wreck site of the Titanic with four men aboard.
However, despite the less-than-excellent safety record, Sonlein is now seeking to send human colonies to Venus. In one of his posts, he stated, "We can embark on our journey to Venus today, and do so safely and cost-effectively." Most scientists, however, say that Venus is entirely uninhabitable, with surface temperatures high enough to melt lead and an atmosphere filled with sulfuric acid clouds.
Sonlein, who left OceanGate a decade ago, does not plan to attempt a landing on the surface of Venus but suggests that humans could live in floating cities at an altitude of about 50 kilometers above Venus's surface. At this altitude, gravity, equivalent to 98% of Earth's gravity, is deemed necessary for the survival of the human colony. Additionally, the air pressure at this height is comparable to that at sea level on Earth, and temperatures remain at a relatively acceptable range of 30-50 degrees Celsius.
Regarding the sulfuric acid clouds, he stated that they "can be overcome with breathing apparatus and acid-resistant materials" or converted into potable water. Sonlein said, "The reality is that Venus is much closer to Earth, with a very similar orbit, making it more accessible than Mars." He added, "There's also no need to worry about successfully landing on the planet's surface, which is one of the biggest challenges we face on Mars."
Notably, since leaving Sonlein left OceanGate in 2013, he has pursued the highly ambitious goal of sending humans to Venus. He founded the Humans2Venus Foundation in 2020 with the declared aim of creating "the largest global community of Venus enthusiasts in general and professionals."
