- SpaceX’s Starship is set to launch for Mars at the end of 2026, carrying Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus
- If the robotic mission succeeds, human landings could begin as early as 2029
- A modified version of Starship is also planned for NASA’s Artemis programme
Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX's Starship rocket is set to embark on its first mission to Mars at the end of 2026, carrying Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus.
The billionaire further revealed that if this mission proves successful, human landings on the Red Planet could begin as early as 2029, though 2031 appears to be a more realistic timeline.
“Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus.
“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk stated on his social media platform, X.
Starship, currently the most powerful and largest rocket in the world, plays a crucial role in Musk’s vision of establishing a human colony on Mars.
The spacecraft is designed for long-distance space travel, and its success would mark a significant milestone in interplanetary exploration.
Beyond Mars, NASA is also depending on a modified version of Starship for its Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon before the decade ends.
The spacecraft is expected to serve as a lunar lander, facilitating future deep-space exploration.
However, before either Mars or lunar missions can proceed, SpaceX must ensure Starship is fully reliable, safe for human travel, and capable of advanced in-orbit refuelling, a key factor for long-duration missions.
Despite Musk’s ambitious plans, Starship has faced recent setbacks.
Earlier this month, a test flight of the rocket ended in a dramatic explosion.
While the booster was successfully retrieved in its orbital test, the upper stage of the rocket tumbled out of control minutes after liftoff, leading to a loss of signal and mission failure.
The incident closely mirrored a previous failed test.
In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated an investigation before SpaceX can proceed with further flights.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches Starship test flight, catches booster
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that SpaceX launched its fifth Starship test flight from Texas and returned the rocket’s towering first-stage booster to land for the first time, achieving a novel recovery method involving large metal arms.
This marked the first successful recovery of the Super Heavy booster at the launch site using robotic arms.