SpaceX faces hurdles with starship tests before Mars mission
Ewelina Zambrzycka-Koscielnicka from the CBK PAN emphasizes that perfecting Mars landings is crucial before sending a crew. Rushing the mission could be dangerous.
Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, is planning the first Mars flight of the Starship rocket for March 2026. The humanoid robot Optimus will be on board. If the landing succeeds, humans could reach Mars as early as 2029, though Musk suggests that 2031 is more realistic.
The Starship, measuring over 120 metres, is designed to carry large payloads into orbit. It is essential for the Artemis mission, which aims to resume human landings on the Moon. Ewelina Zambrzycka-Koscielnicka from the Space Research Centre of PAN points out that Starship is not yet operational. Tests since 2023 show progress, but two tests this year ended in explosions.
SpaceX is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the causes of the failures. The company aims to accelerate tests in 2025, but it needs approval for commercial launches. Zambrzycka-Koscielnicka emphasizes that successfully landing the Starship on Earth is essential before attempting a landing on Mars.
Meanwhile, two of this year's Starship tests, involving the upper stage intended to serve as both spacecraft and lander, ended in explosions. In both cases, the vehicle, which is intended to carry astronauts and cargo, broke apart shortly after launch. SpaceX, which launches spacecraft from its base in southern Texas, is currently working with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the second consecutive failure, which occurred on 6 March, as the expert reminded, according to the Polish Press Agency.
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Key supply and health issues
The expert points out the lack of information on SpaceX's plans for supplies and fuel on Mars. A prolonged flight in weightless conditions weakens astronauts' muscles and bones, which could be problematic on Mars, where gravity is significantly weaker than on Earth.
NASA and ESA are currently focused on the lunar programme, which is to be a testing ground for future Mars missions. Zambrzycka-Koscielnicka emphasizes that perfecting landing on Mars is key for the safety of crewed missions.
From my point of view, rushing is not advisable, and efforts to accelerate such a mission focus on the prestige resulting from such an achievement - the expert concludes.
