Elon Musk Backs William Shatner’s Bold Mission: Making Pluto a Planet Again!

Captain Kirk is on a mission – and this time, it's not about exploring strange new worlds, but restoring Pluto's planetary status! Legendary actor William Shatner, known for his iconic role in Star Trek, has launched a campaign to reinstate Pluto as a planet, and he's enlisting the help of none other than Elon Musk.

Shatner's plea began with a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he suggested recruiting Musk to "get the President to sign one of those Executive thingies to make Pluto a planet again." The reason? Shatner believes the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has unfairly demoted Pluto, exercising a "tyranny of the cosmos." He even questioned their authority, asking, "BTW why do they need a union? It’s not like anyone would care if they went on strike. Maybe it’s to prevent bullying?"

Enter Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and the self-proclaimed "Kekius Maximus." Musk responded to Shatner's call with a simple but powerful endorsement: "I'd support that." This sparked a wave of excitement and support on social media, with users echoing the sentiment that "Pluto is our family, too!" The movement taps into a deep-seated nostalgia and emotional connection many feel towards the former ninth planet.

But why was Pluto demoted in the first place? Back in 2006, the IAU established criteria for a celestial body to be classified as a planet. According to NASA, a planet must orbit the Sun, have sufficient mass for its gravity to overcome rigid forces, and have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. Pluto failed the third criterion due to its relatively small size and has since been classified as a dwarf planet.

Despite the IAU's scientific reasoning, Shatner's campaign highlights a powerful sentiment: Pluto holds a special place in our cultural imagination. His appeal to Musk underscores the power of celebrity influence and social media in shaping public opinion, even on matters of planetary science. While the chances of a presidential executive order overturning the IAU's decision may be slim, the conversation sparked by Shatner and endorsed by Musk brings renewed attention to Pluto and the ongoing debate about what it truly means to be a planet. This also highlights Musk's interest in space, as he said, "We should have been on Mars by now."

This whimsical yet thought-provoking debate reminds us of the dynamic interplay between science, culture, and public perception. Will Pluto regain its planetary status? Only time (and perhaps an executive order) will tell. What are your thoughts on this?

Let us know in the comments below! Join the conversation and share your opinion on whether Pluto should be a planet again.

• Elon Musk
• Pluto
• William Shatner