SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Friday that his company’s massive Starship rocket would leave for Mars at the end of 2026, carrying with it Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus.
In a post on X, Musk also suggested that human landings on Mars could begin as early as 2029 if the initial landings go well, though 2031 was more likely.
The update follows several recent disappointments for the world’s first private space firm and Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars.
What is Starship and what will it do?
Starship — the world’s largest and most powerful rocket — is key to Musk’s plan to colonize Mars.
At 403 feet (123 meters) tall, about 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, the rocket is designed to eventually be fully reusable.
Designed for deep space exploration, it is hoped Starship will make missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, making space travel more cost-effective and efficient.
NASA is also awaiting a modified version of Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade.
However, before those missions can take place, Space X must prove the vehicle is reliable, safe and capable of complex in-orbit refueling, which is critical for deep space missions.
Multiple test flights of the Starship prototype have taken place, with several failures but also milestones like reaching space.
Earlier this month, SpaceX faced a setback when its latest test flight ended in a fiery explosion, its second failure this year.
Despite this, the firm’s approach of “fail fast, learn fast” has helped it become the world’s dominant launch services provider.
On March 6, a SpaceX Starship rocket exploded after liftoff, a second failure this yearImage: @_ericloosen_ via REUTERS
What is Optimus?
Also known as Tesla Bot, Optimus is a humanoid robot being developed by Musk’s electric vehicle company.
It’s designed to perform repetitive, dangerous, or mundane tasks that humans would rather avoid.
The tech billionaire revealed the robot at an event last year. saying he expects it to retail for $20,000 (€18,300) to $30,000.
Will Trump make Mars a priority?
In November, Reuters news agency cited sources saying that Musk’s dream of transporting humans to Mars would become a bigger national priority under US President Donald Trump.
The sources said that Musk’s desire for reforms of the Federal Aviation Administration, the US space and aviation regulator, could help the Mars ambitions.
Musk has frequently clashed with the FAA, accusing it of over-regulating SpaceX over safety and environmental concerns, which he said has slowed the development of Starship.
Trump also vowed in his inauguration speech in January “to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”
However, Musk’s status as one of Trump’s closest advisors and his influence over federal regulators are raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest for his companies, including SpaceX.
Musk’s alignment with Trump, along with accusations of interference in European politics, has made him a target for fierce criticism, political roadblocks and potential legal action.
Trump bought a Tesla this week in a show of support for Musk, whose foray into politics has drawn deep criticismImage: Getty Images
Edited by: Kieran Burke
