SpaceX plans to launch about five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars in two years, CEO Elon Musk said on Sunday in a post on social media platform X. Each launch will gather critical data that supports the long-term vision of the SpaceX Mars mission. #SpaceXMarsMission
Earlier this month, Musk had said that the first Starships to Mars would launch in two years “when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens.”
The CEO on Sunday said that the first crewed mission timeline will depend upon the success of the uncrewed flights. If the uncrewed missions land safely, crewed missions will be launched in four years. However, in case of challenges, crewed missions will be postponed by another two years, Musk said.
Musk, known for shifting timelines on Starship’s readiness, stated earlier this year that the first uncrewed Starship would land on Mars within five years. He also mentioned that the first humans could land on Mars within seven years. These ambitious timelines showcase Musk’s vision for interplanetary exploration.
In June, a Starship rocket successfully survived a fiery, hypersonic return from space. It achieved a breakthrough landing demonstration in the Indian Ocean during its fourth test mission.
Musk aims to use Starship to achieve his goal of a large, multipurpose spacecraft. This spacecraft will send people and cargo to the moon and eventually to Mars.
NASA earlier this year delayed Artemis 3 mission and its first crewed moon landing in half a century using SpaceX’s Starship, to September 2026. It was previously planned for late 2025, NASA said.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa canceled his private mission around the moon in June. He cited uncertainties in SpaceX’s Starship development schedule as the reason. #SpaceXMarsMission
As SpaceX advances its bold plans, the entire world eagerly anticipates the developments of the SpaceX Mars mission.
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