SpaceX's Starship to depart for Mars in 2026
What's the story
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently announced the company's Starship rocket would embark on a journey to Mars at the end of 2026. The spacecraft will carry Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus onboard. Musk shared the information through a post on X, saying "Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus." He further added if all goes well with those landings, human landings might begin as early as 2029 or more likely by 2031.
Setbacks
Starship's test launches have encountered challenges
SpaceX has had a troubled history with the Starship rocket. All eight of its test launches have failed till now. The latest was on March 7, when a Starship craft exploded minutes after launch and space debris fell back to Earth. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then called for ground stops at several airports and opened an investigation into the launch failure.
Simulation
Starship's test flight aimed to simulate Mars landing
The test flight of the 123-metre tall rocket system was to make a full orbit around the Earth and re-enter over the Indian Ocean, simulating the landing sequence of its final Mars product. SpaceX now needs to obtain clearance from the FAA for another Starship test after these failed launches. The vehicle has to clear several tests proving it's safe for crew use and complex in-orbit refueling-capability, essential for long journeys in deep space.
Collaboration
NASA also awaits modified Starship for Artemis program
NASA is also expecting a tweaked version of the Starship to act as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, which seeks to get astronauts back to the Moon this decade. But before SpaceX carries out these missions, it needs to show the vehicle is reliable and safe for crew use. The rocket's complex in-orbit refueling capabilities are critical for deep space missions and need to be tested thoroughly before going ahead with Mars or lunar landings.