Elon Musk Targets 2026 for Mars Rocket Launch, Human Missions by 2031

SpaceX's Starship plans include sending a Tesla humanoid robot to Mars next year, with human landings contingent on successful tests.

Elon Musk announced plans for SpaceX's Starship to launch toward Mars by the end of 2026, carrying Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus as a precursor to human missions.
Human landings on Mars are projected to begin as early as 2029, though Musk indicated 2031 is a more realistic timeline if initial missions succeed.
Starship, the world's largest and most powerful rocket, is central to Musk's long-term ambition of establishing a self-sustaining human colony on Mars.
SpaceX must address significant challenges, including proving Starship's reliability, safety, and its ability to perform in-orbit refueling for deep space missions.
Recent test flights of Starship prototypes have faced setbacks, including explosions, prompting investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration before further launches can proceed.