SpaceX is preparing to launch five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars within the next two years, according to CEO Elon Musk.
In a social media post on Sunday, Musk confirmed that these missions are set to coincide with the next Earth-Mars transfer window, expected to open in two years.
The success of these uncrewed missions will determine the timeline for sending humans to Mars, Musk added. Should the missions land successfully, the first crewed mission could launch in four years. However, any challenges during the uncrewed flights could push the crewed mission back by an additional two years.
Musk’s projected timelines for Mars missions have shifted in the past. Earlier this year, he stated that the first uncrewed mission would happen within five years, with a crewed landing following two years later.
SpaceX’s Starship program achieved a major milestone in June when a Starship rocket survived a hypersonic return from space and successfully landed in the Indian Ocean, marking the completion of a full test mission. This was the fourth attempt at a full test flight for the Starship rocket.
Musk envisions Starship as a multipurpose spacecraft capable of transporting people and cargo to the moon and eventually to Mars. SpaceX’s Starship will also be used for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission, which aims to return humans to the moon. However, NASA recently delayed the Artemis 3 mission to September 2026, citing development delays. The mission was initially planned for late 2025.
The challenges surrounding Starship’s development have also affected private missions. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa canceled a SpaceX-sponsored private moon mission earlier this year due to uncertainties in the rocket’s schedule.
As SpaceX continues to work toward its ambitious Mars goals, all eyes are on the progress of its uncrewed Starship missions.
