HAWTHORNE, California: SpaceX is planning to launch approximately five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars over the next two years, CEO Elon Musk has announced via the social media platform X.
Earlier this month, Musk indicated that the first Starships would lift off when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens in two years. He explained that the timeline for crewed missions will depend on the success of these uncrewed flights. If the uncrewed missions land successfully, crewed missions could be launched in four years. However, if there are any challenges, the crewed missions could be delayed by an additional two years.
Musk, known for his shifting timelines regarding Starship’s readiness, previously stated that the first uncrewed Starship would land on Mars within five years, with the first crewed landing occurring within seven years.
In June, a Starship rocket successfully executed a hypersonic return from space and achieved a significant landing demonstration in the Indian Ocean during its fourth test flight around the globe. Musk is relying on Starship to realize his vision of a large, versatile next-generation spacecraft designed to transport people and cargo to the Moon later this decade, with the ultimate goal of reaching Mars.
Earlier this year, NASA postponed the Artemis 3 mission, which aims for the first crewed Moon landing in fifty years using SpaceX’s Starship, to September 2026, shifting it from its previous target of late 2025.
Additionally, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa canceled a planned private mission around the Moon, which was set to use SpaceX’s Starship, due to uncertainties regarding the rocket’s development schedule.
