SpaceX’s Starship to Reach Mars by 2026, Says Elon Musk

If everything goes according to plan, Elon Musk announced via his social platform X that SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, could make its journey to Mars within two years. The optimal launch window will be in 2026, when Mars will be at its closest point to Earth.

Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, revealed that the Starship, a two-stage mega-rocket consisting of a launch vehicle and spacecraft, could reach Mars as early as 2026.

This mission will likely involve multiple spacecraft, as Musk implied that there will be more than just a single flight. However, no astronauts will be on board during these initial missions, which are intended to test the ability to land safely and reliably on the Martian surface.

Musk also stated that if these initial landings are successful, the first human crew could be sent to Mars by 2028. Since Earth and Mars align favorably every 26 months, 2026 presents the best opportunity for this groundbreaking mission.

According to Musk, once successful landings are achieved, the frequency of flights to Mars will increase exponentially. He even predicted that within 20 years, a city inhabited by humans could be established on the Red Planet.

Starship is designed as a fully reusable two-stage rocket. The first stage, called the Super Heavy booster, and the second stage, the Starship spacecraft, together stand 122 meters tall, making it the tallest and most powerful rocket in the world.

Starship generates twice the thrust of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), which is currently being used for the Artemis program aimed at lunar exploration. In 2025, NASA plans to send astronauts in the Orion spacecraft around the Moon, with a lunar landing slated for 2026—the first in 52 years.

A key advantage of Starship over NASA’s SLS is its reusability. After each mission, the Super Heavy booster is designed to return to the launch pad for reuse.

Musk’s vision of landing humans on Mars and building a permanent colony has been a longstanding goal, and SpaceX believes Starship is the key to turning this dream into reality.

However, the spacecraft is still undergoing rigorous testing. So far, four test launches have been conducted, with each one yielding progressively better results.

SpaceX is currently preparing for a fifth test flight, expected to happen soon, where the Super Heavy booster will attempt to land back on the launch pad—another critical step toward full mission readiness.

Musk also envisions using Starship not only for Mars missions but for lunar missions as well, transporting both cargo and people to the Moon.