Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced a new milestone in space exploration: by the end of 2026, the robotic humanoid Optimus is to travel to Mars on a mission to prepare the ground for a future colony. The plan, unveiled in Musk’s social media post, would be the first step toward landing humans on the Red Planet – possibly as early as 2029-2031. However, the ambitious dream was preceded by failure: at the end of May 2024, the Starship rocket designed to deliver Optimus exploded again during launch.
At a presentation at the end of 2024, Tesla showed an updated version of the robot, which Musk called “the most important product in history.” Although the demonstration was partially controlled by humans, the CEO assured: by 2025, the company will produce thousands of functional Optimus costing $20,000 to $30,000 per unit. “They will do useful things,” he said, hinting at the potential of an industry with more than $10 trillion in revenue.
Starship: challenges and hopes
The success of the Martian mission depends on Starship, a rocket that has exploded recently during test flights. Despite this, NASA counts on it as part of the Artemis lunar program – returning humans to the moon. Musk is confident: if the Mars landing succeeds, it will pave the way for manned missions. But experts caution: even an unmanned launch by 2026 would require an incredible technological breakthrough.
Why Optimus?
Sending a robot to Mars isn’t just a promotional move. Optimus should be a pioneer that will test the feasibility of building infrastructure in radiation, dust storms and extreme temperatures. This is critical for building living modules and life support systems before the colonists arrive. In addition, the success of the mission will confirm the competitiveness of Starship, which could get dozens of contracts from NASA and private companies.
Skeptics vs. optimists
Although the scandalous Elon Musk is known for making bold statements, many experts doubt the realism of his set schedule. For example, Starship interplanetary flight would require:
- Stability of the design after failed launches.
- Developing systems to maintain Optimus in operational condition.
- Solving the fuel problem.
Nevertheless, if SpaceX succeeds, it will be a historic achievement – the first step toward making humanity a “multi-planet” species.
The years 2025-2026 may go down in history as the time when robots will make the “leap” from industrial lines to interplanetary missions. Time will tell whether Musk will be able to realize his dream, but it is already clear: Optimus and Starship are not just technical prototypes, but symbols of a new space age.
Previously, we explained whether Elon Musk’s idea to conquer Mars was genius.
According to digitaltrends.com
