Elon Musk revealed that SpaceX plans to launch missions to Mars and is inviting volunteers prepared for a hazardous and uncomfortable journey. Comparing it to long sea voyages of the past, he aims for uncrewed tests in 2026 and crewed flights by 2028.
SpaceX to Launch Mars Missions
Elon Musk, CEO of rocket manufacturing business SpaceX, stated on Thursday that the company plans to launch a mission to Mars in the future and that anyone who volunteers for the trip will be advised that it might be uncomfortable.
Musk responded to his history of occasional sparring partner, former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, on social networking platform X by writing:
But Musk cautioned that getting to Mars would be like embarking on a "long sea voyage."
"….it will be like a long sea voyage in centuries past – dangerous and uncomfortable, but great adventure!” Musk said.
Musk Envisions Self-Sustaining Mars Metropolis
In an effort to "make life multi-planetary," Musk plans to use SpaceX's Starship launch rocket to transport humans to Mars. Musk has even dreamed of a Martian metropolis he calls Terminus that can run on its own.
Benzinga reports that Musk announced earlier this month that the first Starships will go to Mars in two years when the next transfer window between Earth and Mars opens.
Uncrewed Test Flights Planned for 2026
Musk went on to say that the first Mars launches in 2026 will be test flights to see if the craft can land safely on the red planet without a crew.
"If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years," Musk wrote, setting the first crewed Starship trips to the neighboring planet until 2028. He predicted that in around 20 years, a metropolis that could support itself entirely.
SpaceX Awaits FAA Approval for Starship Tests
Starship, on the other hand, is currently in the testing phase of its development. The business is currently seeking for approval from the FAA to conduct its fifth flight test, following its most recent launch in June.


Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO
Oracle Plans $45–$50 Billion Funding Push in 2026 to Expand Cloud and AI Infrastructure
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised
Jensen Huang Urges Taiwan Suppliers to Boost AI Chip Production Amid Surging Demand
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns
SpaceX Updates Starlink Privacy Policy to Allow AI Training as xAI Merger Talks and IPO Loom
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports
Elon Musk’s Empire: SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI Merger Talks Spark Investor Debate
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 



