Musk says SpaceX to launch first uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years

Musk says SpaceX to launch first uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years

Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX plans to launch its inaugural uncrewed Starships to Mars within the next two years, coinciding with the upcoming Earth-Mars transfer window.

In a recent update on X, Musk stated, "These missions will be uncrewed to assess the reliability of landing safely on Mars." He further indicated that if these initial landings are successful, SpaceX aims to conduct its first crewed missions to Mars within four years. 

Musk elaborated that the frequency of flights will increase significantly thereafter, with the ambitious objective of establishing a self-sustaining city on Mars in approximately 20 years. 

Earlier this year, Musk had projected that the first uncrewed Starship would reach Mars within five years, with human landings anticipated within seven years. 

In June, a Starship rocket successfully completed a critical landing demonstration after a challenging hypersonic re-entry from space, marking a significant milestone in its testing program. 

Musk envisions Starship as a versatile next-generation spacecraft designed to transport both people and cargo to the Moon in the near future, ultimately paving the way for missions to Mars.