Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX’s Starship rocket is set to depart for Mars at the end of 2026, carrying a Tesla humanoid robot called Optimus. The rocket, which is the world’s largest and most powerful, will also carry out human landings “as soon as 2029,” Musk said.
Musk’s vision for colonizing Mars relies on the Starship, which is designed to be fully reusable. NASA has also expressed interest in using a modified version of the Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program.
However, SpaceX must first prove that the vehicle is reliable and safe for crew before it can carry out deep space missions. The company recently faced a setback when one of its test flights ended in a fiery explosion, but Musk’s “fail fast, learn fast” approach has helped SpaceX become the dominant launch services provider.
Despite concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to Musk’s close ties with federal regulators and his influence over safety regulations, the Starship is expected to play a crucial role in humanity’s future on Mars.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250315-musk-says-starship-to-depart-for-mars-end-2026-carrying-tesla-bot