SpaceX plans to send five uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years, Musk says
In a bold announcement on social media platform X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed plans for five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars within the next two years. Musk noted that the inaugural launch would coincide with the next Earth-Mars transfer window, slated to open in two years.
Musk emphasized that the timeline for crewed missions will hinge on the success of these uncrewed flights. If the initial missions land safely, he anticipates that crewed missions could commence in four years. However, he cautioned that any significant challenges could delay these missions by an additional two years.
Historically known for his evolving timelines, Musk had previously projected that the first uncrewed Starship would reach Mars within five years, with human landings occurring within seven. Earlier this year, a key milestone was achieved when a Starship rocket completed a successful landing demonstration in the Indian Ocean following a fiery return from space, marking progress in the rocket’s development.
Musk’s vision for Starship encompasses a multipurpose spacecraft designed to transport both people and cargo to the Moon and, ultimately, Mars. However, recent events have raised questions about the timeline. NASA recently postponed its Artemis 3 mission, which relies on SpaceX’s Starship for its first crewed moon landing in half a century, pushing the launch to September 2026, up from the previously planned late 2025.
Moreover, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa canceled a planned private mission around the Moon that was intended to utilize SpaceX’s Starship, citing concerns over schedule uncertainties in the rocket’s development.
As SpaceX forges ahead with its ambitious Mars plans, the success of upcoming uncrewed missions will be pivotal in determining the future of crewed space exploration.
