Musk announces Starship’s Mars mission set for 2026

SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that the company’s Starship rocket is slated to depart for Mars by the end of 2026, carrying Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus on board.

Musk shared this development on his X social media account, outlining that human landings could begin as soon as 2029, although a more realistic timeline is 2031, depending on how well the initial missions go.

Starship, currently under development by SpaceX, is the world’s largest and most powerful rocket, towering at 123 metres (403 feet) tall—approximately 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.

The massive vehicle is designed to be fully reusable, aligning with Musk’s long-term vision of colonising Mars, and it is a key component in the company’s ambitions to revolutionise space travel.

The Starship mission to Mars will also include Optimus, the humanoid robot developed by Tesla. Musk has previously hinted that Optimus will be capable of performing menial tasks in factories and offering companionship, and is expected to retail for $20,000 to $30,000 when available.

He shared his belief that these robots could eventually perform a wide range of functions, benefiting both space missions and everyday life on Earth.

While Starship plays a pivotal role in Musk’s Mars ambitions, it is also central to SpaceX’s current satellite launch business, where the company dominates with its Falcon 9 rocket.

Furthermore, NASA is awaiting a modified version of Starship to serve as a lunar lander for the Artemis programme, which aims to send astronauts back to the Moon in the coming years. The success of Starship is therefore crucial for both Musk’s vision of space exploration and NASA’s aspirations.

However, SpaceX’s journey has not been without setbacks. This month, the latest test flight of Starship ended in an explosion shortly after liftoff, though the booster, which is responsible for propelling the rocket, was successfully caught during its orbital test.

Despite the explosion, SpaceX’s “fail fast, learn fast” approach has allowed the company to rapidly advance in the space race, and it remains the world’s dominant launch services provider.

Elon Musk’s influence in the space industry is expected to increase further, especially with former US President Donald Trump showing a keen interest in Mars exploration.

Sources have indicated that Musk’s ambitions to transport humans to Mars could become a more significant priority under Trump’s leadership, shifting national attention away from NASA’s Moon programme.

However, Musk’s close ties to federal regulators and his influence over the space industry have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.