Musk Announces SpaceX’s Plan to Launch First Uncrewed Starships to Mars in Two Years, According to Reuters

SpaceX is set to launch its first uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years, coinciding with the upcoming Earth-Mars transfer window, according to CEO Elon Musk. He emphasized that these initial missions will focus on testing the reliability of landing on Mars, with plans for crewed flights to follow in four years contingent on successful landings.

Musk envisions an exponential increase in flight frequency thereafter, aiming to establish a self-sustaining city on Mars within the next 20 years. Earlier this year, he had projected that the first uncrewed Starship would land on Mars within five years, with human landings expected within seven.

In a recent test, a Starship rocket successfully completed a fiery return from space, achieving a significant landing demonstration in the Indian Ocean during its fourth attempt. Musk sees the Starship as a vital component in his ambition to develop a versatile spacecraft capable of transporting people and cargo to the moon later this decade, with the eventual goal of reaching Mars.