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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.
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