SpaceX owner and CEO Elon Musk has announced that his company is planning to launch Starship flights to Mars in 2026. According to Musk, these flights are scheduled to take place "when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens."
A report by Space.com notes that Earth and Mars align once every 26 months. This alignment is conducive for interplanetary missions.
Elon Musk's Plans for Mars Flights
In a tweet posted on his official X account, Musk explained the purpose behind the planned Mars flights for 2026. According to the SpaceX CEO, these uncrewed flights are meant to test if it is possible to land intact on Mars.
Should these tests be successful, crewed flights are planned for launch in 2028. Musk likewise revealed plans of building a "self-sustaining city" on Mars in two decades.
The entirety of Elon Musk's tweet can be read below.
The first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 7, 2024
These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years.
Flight rate will… https://t.co/ZuiM00dpe9
Is the Starship Ready?
Space.com notes that has only had test missions as of writing, with the most recent one having taken place in June. A fifth flight is being planned by the company. However, no launch date has been confirmed for the fifth test flight.
The Starship, which is composed of a booster called Super Heavy and the spacecraft also known as the Starship, has been designed to be reusable. The upcoming fifth flight will aim to land the Super Heavy back to the launch mount after liftoff.
