Mars mission haste risks undermining crew safety, experts warn
Experts emphasise that hastening the Mars mission is inadvisable, partly because the journey to Mars will be arduous for the human body. Perfecting the landing is crucial, as it is essential for crew safety. Questions about the delivery of supplies and fuel remain unresolved.
Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, announced that the first flight of the Starship rocket to Mars is set for March 2026. A humanoid robot named Optimus will be on board. If the landing succeeds, humans could potentially reach Mars as early as 2029, although Musk suggests on X that 2031 is more probable.
Expert: Acceleration of Starship tests in 2025 possible
As commented by Ewelina Zambrzycka-Koscielnicka, spokesperson for the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the two-stage Starship rocket - Super Heavy "is not yet operational." Although the Starship, a powerful rocket measuring over 120 metres, has been tested since April 2023, and the Super Heavy booster has landed successfully twice, tests of the upper stage have ended in explosions. SpaceX is collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the causes of these failures.
She also notes that accelerating Starship tests in 2025 is possible but requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. Achieving a successful landing of the Starship on Earth, which has not yet been accomplished, will be crucial.
"If the company manages to accelerate the tests and rectify errors, who knows - perhaps in 2026 they will indeed decide to head towards Mars and attempt a landing on the Red Planet. However, first SpaceX must ensure a correct landing of the Starship on Earth, which has not yet occurred," the expert observed.
Lower gravity on Mars will make it not easy
The journey to Mars presents not only a technological challenge but also a physical one. Astronauts will have to endure weightlessness for at least six months, which will weaken their muscles and bones. "Upon arriving on Mars, where gravity is nearly three times weaker than on Earth, they will not rebuild muscle strength. And they still face the return journey to Earth," the expert stressed.
The rush to complete the Mars mission may be motivated by prestige
Zambrzycka-Koscielnicka emphasises that rushing the Mars mission is inadvisable and carries enormous risks.
The spokesperson for the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences also pointed out that any potential disaster would undoubtedly lead to the postponement of manned Martian missions for several more decades.
