Overview

• Elon Musk plans to send an uncrewed Starship to Mars at the end of 2026 carrying a Tesla-built Optimus humanoid robot to simulate the first crewed mission.
• He says meeting the deadline carries about a 50-50 chance due to recent launch failures and outstanding orbital refueling challenges.
• SpaceX postponed its long-planned in-orbit propellant transfer demonstration until next year to enable refueling for deep-space missions.
• The company is constructing a Texas factory capable of producing up to 1,000 Starships per year to scale mission operations.
• NASA is counting on Starship for a crewed lunar landing as early as 2027 ahead of its longer-term Mars objectives.