SpaceX plans to launch about five unmanned Starship missions to Mars within two years, Elon Musk says. If these flights are completed successfully, the first manned mission could take place as early as 2028. However, if difficulties emerge, the mission will be postponed by two years due to the alignment of Earth and Mars, which impacts the launch.
Musk has expressed ambitious plans to bring travel to Mars accessible to anyone who dreams of space adventure, anticipating thousands of spacecraft to travel to the Red Planet. However, it’s worth noting that Musk has repeatedly made optimistic predictions that haven’t always been realized. For example, in 2016, he planned to launch a rocket to Mars in 2018, and promised the first flight to the distant planet in 2022.
SpaceX plans to launch about five uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years.
If those all land safely, then crewed missions are possible in four years. If we encounter challenges, then the crewed missions will be postponed another two years.
It is only possible to travel from… https://t.co/dzi03Hnyhg
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 22, 2024
SpaceX is now awaiting permission from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Starship’s fifth orbital test flight. The FAA continues to investigate the environmental impact and safety measures of these flights, preventing SpaceX from continuing testing. In particular, the FAA recently stated that it would take time until at least the end of November to complete the investigation. SpaceX changed the rocket configuration and mission conditions for the fifth flight, necessitating additional inspection.
The FAA also noted that SpaceX provided new data in August regarding the greater environmental impact of the fifth flight than previously expected. This caused a delay due to the need to consult with other agencies.
Musk said in his post that he aimed to help humanity establish regular interplanetary travel before Earth is threatened by a global catastrophe, such as a nuclear war or demographic collapse. He also criticized over-regulation, which he believes is slowing Starship testing and preventing other large-scale engineering projects.
Despite Musk’s displeasure with restrictions from regulators, many people support such safety measures that help prevent disasters and protect ecosystems. After all, neglecting safety has repeatedly led to accidents at SpaceX.
Earlier we shared some interesting facts about Starship.
According to digitaltrends.com
