Elon Musk Targets Mars Mission with Starship by Late 2026
SpaceX founder outlines plans for robotic landings in 2026 and potential human missions by 2031, despite ongoing technical challenges.
- Elon Musk announced that SpaceX's Starship could launch its first mission to Mars by the end of 2026, carrying the Tesla Optimus humanoid robot.
- Human landings on Mars are tentatively projected for 2029, though Musk suggests 2031 as a more likely timeline, contingent on successful test missions.
- Starship, the world's largest and most powerful rocket, remains in the testing phase, with recent flights experiencing mid-launch failures and explosions.
- Critics and experts express skepticism about the aggressive timeline, citing unresolved technical and logistical challenges, including fuel requirements and astronaut safety.
- Musk envisions a long-term goal of colonizing Mars with 1,000 Starships, aiming to make interplanetary travel affordable and sustainable for future settlers.