SpaceX is gearing up to send approximately five unmanned Starships to Mars within the next two years, as announced by CEO Elon Musk in a post on the social media platform X this past Sunday.
Musk stated, “If all goes well and the landings are successful, we could see crewed missions in four years.” However, he cautioned that if any difficulties arise, the timeline for crewed missions could be pushed back by another two years.
He added, “Regardless of the success of the landings, SpaceX will significantly ramp up the number of spacecraft making trips to Mars with each opportunity we get.” Earlier in the month, Musk shared on X that the first uncrewed Starships are set to launch to Mars in two years, aligning with the next transfer window between Earth and Mars.
Musk’s ambitions for Mars are not new. He has consistently expressed his vision of making humanity a “multi-planetary” species, frequently referencing the establishment of a human settlement on Mars as a safeguard for civilization. His latest remarks indicate that SpaceX is making significant strides toward realizing this dream in the coming years.