SpaceX plans to launch its first uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years, aligning with the next Earth-Mars transfer window, according to Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.
In a post on social media platform X on Saturday, Musk stated that these missions would test the reliability of landing intact on Mars without a crew. He added that if the landings are successful, SpaceX would aim to send its first crewed flights to Mars in four years.
Musk further explained that the flight rate would increase exponentially after that, with the ultimate objective of building a self-sustaining city on Mars within about 20 years.
The billionaire entrepreneur had previously mentioned in April that the first uncrewed Starship would land on Mars within five years, and the first human landings would follow within seven years.
In June, a Starship rocket achieved a major milestone when it survived a fiery, hypersonic re-entry from space, successfully completing a breakthrough landing demonstration in the Indian Ocean.
This marked the fourth attempt of the rocket, following a full test mission around the globe.
Musk is relying on the Starship to achieve his broader goal of developing a large, multipurpose next-generation spacecraft capable of transporting both people and cargo to the moon later this decade, with the eventual goal of reaching Mars.
SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002, continues to push the boundaries of space exploration with Starship playing a central role in these long-term ambitions.
