Elon Musk says SpaceX is aiming to launch its first uncrewed mission to Mars by the end of 2026, even as Starship continues to suffer major test flight setbacks.
In a new update, Musk revealed that while there’s only a 50/50 chance of hitting that date, the company is pressing ahead. The 2026 launch would coincide with a rare Mars-Earth alignment, making the trip shorter — around seven to nine months.
The first mission will carry Tesla-built Optimus robots to simulate a human crew, with real astronauts expected on later flights. Musk’s long-term plan is to send 1,000 to 2,000 Starships every two years to build a permanent settlement on Mars.
Starship’s most recent flight on Tuesday ended in failure, exploding halfway through the mission. It was the third major mishap in 2024 alone. Musk shrugged it off, calling it “good data” and promising faster test launches.
NASA, meanwhile, still plans to use Starship to return astronauts to the Moon in 2027, before eventually heading to Mars in the 2030s.
Musk previously aimed for a Mars launch as early as 2018, then 2024 — dates that have slipped, but his ambition remains sky-high.
