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Elon Musk has announced Mars mission that will set off next year, carrying Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus.
Elon Musk announces SpaceX’s Mars mission (Reuters Image)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday (local time) announced a Mars mission at the end of 2026, while also revealing that Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus will be onboard the spacecraft.
He further announced that human landings may begin by 2029 if the landings take place successfully.
“Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on X.
Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus.If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely. https://t.co/JRBB95sgNN
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2025
The CEO made the announcement on the 23rd anniversary of SpaceX, which was founded on March 14, 2002.
The last eight Starship test launches have been unsuccessful. The latest one was on March 7 when a Starship spacecraft exploded minutes after its launch into space, resulting in the fall of its debris back to Earth.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefly halted flights at Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando airports following the failed launch of SpaceX’s Starship. The agency has since launched an investigation into the incident.
Starship, a 123-meter fully reusable rocket system, was designed to complete a full orbit around Earth before re-entering over the Indian Ocean for a splashdown—simulating the landing sequence intended for future deep-space missions, including a journey to Mars.
With the latest test flight ending in failure, SpaceX will need FAA approval before conducting another launch. The company must complete multiple tests to ensure Starship’s reliability for crewed missions and validate its ability to perform in-orbit refueling, a critical component for deep-space travel.
Meanwhile, NASA is awaiting a modified version of Starship as part of its Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon later this decade.
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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