Elon Musk Sets 2026 for Starship's First Mars Mission with Tesla Robot

SpaceX aims to launch its Starship rocket to Mars next year, with human landings potentially starting by 2029 if initial tests succeed.

Elon Musk announced plans for SpaceX's Starship to depart for Mars in late 2026, carrying Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus as a precursor to human missions.
Human landings on Mars could begin as early as 2029, though Musk indicated 2031 is a more likely timeline depending on the success of initial missions.
The Starship rocket, standing 123 meters tall, is the world's largest and most powerful rocket and is central to Musk's vision of colonizing Mars.
SpaceX's recent Starship test flights have faced setbacks, including a March 2025 explosion during an uncrewed orbital test, prompting FAA investigations and required approvals for further tests.
NASA plans to use a modified version of Starship for its Artemis program, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade.