SpaceX’s billionaire founder Elon Musk asserts that in spite of Starship challenges, the space firm is steadfast in its mission, which targets Mars, roughly 140 million miles distant. In a 42-minute video shared on X Thursday evening, Musk detailed a plan to send the colossal spacecraft to Mars potentially as soon as next year. His overarching ambition is to utilize a fleet of Starships to transport 1 million humans to Mars by 2050, aiming not solely to visit the planet but to create a lasting, self-sufficient city there.
The new schedule is difficult to grasp, particularly following another explosion of a Starship prototype this week. Even though the vehicle made it to space during testing, it did not fulfill several of its objectives. Musk is recognized for underplaying timelines — he previously aimed to launch an uncrewed vehicle to Mars by 2018 — yet he persists in presenting audacious schedules.
“If we establish two planets, we continue onward,” he stated. “We can venture among the stars, transforming science fiction into reality.”
Here are the main points from Musk’s recent Mars briefing:
1. A Mars touchdown in 2027
Musk is aiming for late 2026 for the inaugural uncrewed Starship journey to Mars, leveraging an orbital alignment that would reduce the travel time between the planets. The spacecraft would arrive approximately seven to nine months later in 2027. Musk estimates the chances of launching in this upcoming timeframe to be around 50-50. Should SpaceX miss this window, the following chance would not arise for another couple of years.
To travel to Mars in the near future, SpaceX must first learn how to refuel a Starship in low-Earth orbit post-launch — a feat that has never been accomplished before.
2. Initially just robots, then humans
The first mission will not transport humans, but SpaceX intends to deploy humanoid Optimus robots, crafted by Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla. During his presentation, Musk showcased images of the futuristic robots, including one that pays tribute to the iconic Lunch atop a Skyscraper photo, with Optimuses perched together on a steel beam.
“That would be an incredible sight to witness Optimus roaming on the surface of Mars,” he remarked.
3. The possible landing site: Arcadia
SpaceX is examining various potential sites on Mars for Starship’s landing, with the primary option being an area known as Arcadia, which also shares its name with one of Musk’s children. It’s among the few locations with substantial shallow ice near the Martian equator, according to NASA. Musk noted that SpaceX will prioritize a site that is not close to the poles, contains ice for water, and is not excessively mountainous for the rockets.
4. A fleet of thousands
With each Mars alignment launch window, SpaceX aims to boost its flight frequency. To accomplish this, they will require many more rockets and ships. Presently, the SpaceX facility in Starbase, Texas — recently voted by locals to become a city — is capable of producing a new Starship every two to three weeks, as noted by Musk. The company plans to establish two “Giga Bay” sites — one in Texas and another in Florida — to enhance output to several per day.
He envisions sending 1,000 to 2,000 ships to the Red Planet every few years, with the capability to retrieve and reuse boosters within hours. The objective is to transport sufficient people, infrastructure, and supplies so that if cargo deliveries from Earth cease, the Martian settlement can sustain itself.
“My estimation is that would amount to about a million tons, but it could be 10 million tons. I hope it’s not 100 million tons,” he added. “That would be a considerable amount.”