SpaceX, the American aerospace company led by Elon Musk, has announced ambitious plans to launch five unmanned Starship missions to Mars over the next two years. Musk shared the update on social media platform X, revealing that if these missions succeed, crewed missions to Mars could begin within the following four years.
Earlier this month, Musk confirmed that the first Starship could launch toward Mars in two years, taking advantage of the next Earth-Mars transfer window. The billionaire also emphasized that the timeline for the first human mission to Mars will depend on the success of these initial unmanned flights. If setbacks occur, the crewed missions could be delayed by an additional two years.
In early 2024, Musk reiterated that SpaceX aims to land its first unmanned spacecraft on Mars within five years, with the first humans expected to arrive within seven years. The company has been making significant progress, including the Starship rocket’s successful return from space in June after completing a test flight around Earth.
With these milestones, Musk’s vision of making humanity a multi-planetary species seems closer than ever.