SpaceX is gearing up to launch five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars over the next two years, according to CEO Elon Musk.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Musk revealed that the missions are planned for when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens, which is expected in two years.
Musk’s announcement follows an earlier statement this month where he stressed the importance of these uncrewed flights. He mentioned that the timeline for the first crewed Mars mission will depend on the success of the uncrewed missions.
If the uncrewed missions land safely, the first crewed missions could be launched in 4 years, Musk said. However, if challenges arise, he noted, crewed flights might be delayed by an additional two years.
This isn’t the first time Musk has shared ambitious timelines for Starship. Earlier this year, he predicted the first uncrewed landing on Mars within five years and the first crewed landing within seven years. However, Musk is known for adjusting timelines as challenges arise.
SpaceX has been making significant progress with Starship. In June, a Starship rocket completed a full test mission, surviving a hypersonic return from space and achieving a breakthrough landing in the Indian Ocean.
It was the rocket’s fourth test and marked a major step toward Musk’s long-term goal of using Starship for missions to the moon and Mars.
Earlier this year, NASA pushed its Artemis 3 mission, which aims for a crewed moon landing using Starship, to September 2026, a delay from its previous late 2025 target.
While SpaceX continues to work on Starship’s development, some private missions have faced setbacks. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who had paid for a private mission around the moon, canceled his trip in June due to uncertainties surrounding Starship’s schedule.
As Musk and SpaceX push forward with their Mars ambitions, all eyes remain on Starship’s progress and the outcome of the uncrewed missions.
