SpaceX plans to conduct five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars over the next two years, as announced by CEO Elon Musk on X this past Sunday.
Musk has previously stated that the initial launches are expected to take place when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens in two years.
He emphasized that the schedule for crewed missions will hinge on the outcomes of these uncrewed flights, with the possibility of crewed launches occurring in four years if the uncrewed missions prove successful. However, if there are setbacks, these launches could be delayed by an additional two years.
Earlier this year, Musk estimated that the first uncrewed Starship would reach Mars within five years, with the inaugural crewed landing anticipated within seven years.
In June, a Starship successfully executed a complete test mission, landing in the Indian Ocean after a hypersonic re-entry from space. Musk envisions the Starship as a multifunctional spacecraft suitable for both lunar and Martian exploration.
NASA has rescheduled the Artemis 3 mission, which depends on SpaceX’s Starship, to September 2026, moving it from its initial late 2025 timeline.
Furthermore, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has canceled his private lunar mission utilizing the Starship due to uncertainties surrounding the rocket's development schedule.