SpaceX sets sights on Mars: Starship to carry robot in 2026
SpaceX plans to launch a groundbreaking flight to Mars in March 2026. The humanoid robot Optimus will be on board the Starship rocket, marking another step towards colonising the Red Planet.
SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk, announced that the first flight of the Starship rocket to Mars will take place in March 2026. The humanoid robot Optimus will be onboard, and it is intended to be a key element of the mission. Musk emphasised that if the landing is successful, humans could reach Mars by 2029, although a more realistic timeframe is 2031.
The powerful Starship rocket
Starship is an impressive, over 394 feet tall structure designed to carry the most significant payloads into orbit. In addition to Mars missions, the rocket is set to play a crucial role in the Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a permanent presence there.
To date, Starship has completed eight test flights into space. The last of these, in early March, failed when the spacecraft lost control and exploded in the air. Despite this setback, SpaceX remains steadfast in its efforts to perfect the technology.
On Friday, SpaceX, in cooperation with NASA, launched a Falcon 9 rocket towards the International Space Station (ISS). The mission aimed to return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the ISS. This collaboration is further evidence of the dynamic development between SpaceX and the space agency.
