Elon Musk Announces SpaceX Starship Mars Mission Targeting Late 2026

The uncrewed mission aims to land a humanoid robot on Mars, with potential for human missions by 2029 or later.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced plans for the Starship rocket to attempt an uncrewed Mars mission by the end of 2026, carrying the humanoid robot Optimus.
If successful, Musk predicts the first human missions to Mars could occur as early as 2029, though 2031 is considered more likely.
Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built at 123 meters tall, is designed to be fully reusable to reduce costs.
The rocket has faced setbacks, including multiple test failures, with the most recent test resulting in the top stage breaking apart mid-flight.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the latest test failure, and further test flights will require regulatory approval.