Elon Musk shares new target date for Starship voyage to Mars
SpaceX is aiming to launch “about five” uncrewed Starship voyages to Mars in two years’ time, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by CEO Elon Musk on Sunday.
Musk said that if the uncrewed missions land safely on the red planet, then the first crewed mission could take place as early as 2028, but he added that “if we encounter challenges, then the crewed missions will be postponed another two years” due to the alignment of Earth and Mars that makes such journeys possible. He continued: “We want to enable anyone who wants to be a space traveler to go to Mars! That means you or your family or friends — anyone who dreams of great adventure. Eventually, there will be thousands of Starships going to Mars and it will a glorious sight to see! Can you imagine? Wow.”
It’s worth noting that Musk’s space-based timelines often slip. In 2016, he said SpaceX was planning to send a rocket to Mars “as soon as 2018,” and in 2022, he said the Starship could make its first flight to the distant planet this year.
That’s right! Elon Musk recently shared a video of the Starship preparing for its highly anticipated launch. The FAA has indicated that the launch could happen as early as Monday. This launch marks a significant step in SpaceX’s mission to advance space travel and exploration.
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