NEW DELHI: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced plans for approximately five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars within the next two years, aiming to launch during the next Earth-Mars transfer window.

Musk shared this timeline on social media platform X, emphasising that the success of these uncrewed flights will dictate the schedule for future crewed missions, which could occur four years later if all goes well.

However, if challenges arise, those missions may be delayed by an additional two years.

Earlier this month, Musk noted that the first Starship missions to Mars are targeted for 2026. He has a history of adjusting timelines related to Starship’s readiness; earlier this year, he projected that the first uncrewed Starship would land on Mars within five years and that humans could follow within seven.

The recent advancements in Starship technology include a successful hypersonic return and landing demonstration in June, marking a significant milestone for SpaceX.

Musk envisions Starship as a multipurpose spacecraft capable of transporting people and cargo to the Moon and ultimately facilitating human settlement on Mars.

In addition to SpaceX’s ambitions, NASA recently postponed its Artemis 3 mission, which relies on Starship for its crewed lunar landing, moving the launch date to September 2026 from late 2025. This delay reflects ongoing challenges in rocket development.

Furthermore, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa canceled a private mission around the Moon that was scheduled to use SpaceX’s Starship due to uncertainties surrounding the rocket’s timeline.

As SpaceX prepares for its ambitious Mars missions, Musk remains optimistic about building a self-sustaining city on Mars within two decades, showcasing his long-term vision for humanity as a multiplanetary species.

Agencies

Agencies