Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX’s Starship is set to head to Mars in late 2026, marking a major step in his vision to make humanity a multiplanetary species. The mission will carry Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as part of its payload.
https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1900774290682683612
Musk stated that if all goes according to plan, human landings on Mars could happen as early as 2029, though 2031 remains a more likely target.
The announcement was made via Musk’s X account, where he shared the timeline for SpaceX’s ambitious plans. Shortly after, the X account for Optimus responded with a cryptic two-word message: “Hold on.”
SpaceX describes Starship as the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed. According to the company’s website, the spacecraft can carry up to 150 metric tons in a fully reusable configuration and up to 250 metric tons in an expendable mode.
In U.S. measurements, this equates to 165 tons and 275 tons, respectively.
Musk has long been vocal about his desire to send humans to Mars, often describing it as a necessary step for the survival of humanity. His vision for the Red Planet has been a driving force behind SpaceX’s development of reusable rocket technology.
The billionaire entrepreneur was recently spotted at the White House wearing a shirt that read “Occupy Mars,” per Fox News.
His presence at the White House, along with his recent announcements, has fueled speculation about potential collaborations between SpaceX and the federal government on future Mars missions.
The announcement follows a busy week for SpaceX. On Friday, the company, in partnership with NASA, successfully launched a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission’s primary goal is to replace astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded in space for the past nine months.
Wilmore and Williams originally launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5, 2024. They were scheduled to return to Earth a week later, but technical failures, including thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, forced NASA to delay their return.
Boeing and NASA ultimately decided to keep the astronauts on the ISS rather than risk an unsafe reentry.
