SpaceX aims to launch about five uncrewed Starship missions to Mars within two years, CEO Elon Musk said on X Sunday. If those missions successfully land on the red planet, the first manned mission could happen as early as 2028.
Musk’s ambitious plans for Mars exploration come as SpaceX awaits Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to proceed with Starship’s fifth orbital test. The FAA is currently evaluating the environmental impact of Starship flights and the safety measures planned for the next launch.
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
The agency recently said it will need at least until late November to complete its assessments, much to SpaceX’s chagrin. The FAA explained that additional testing is needed because SpaceX has changed both the vehicle’s configuration and mission profile since previous tests.
“We want to enable anyone who dreams of great adventures to go to Mars!”
Musk said that wanting to make human existence multiplanetary “before something happens on Earth that prevents it, like a nuclear war, a super-virus, or a population collapse“. He criticized what he sees as excessive government regulation for slowing the Starship test program.
Technical and regulatory challenges
It should be noted that Musk’s space timing they often suffer delays. In 2016, he said that SpaceX planned to send a rocket to Mars “as early as 2018,” while in 2022 he indicated that Starship could make its first flight to the red planet this year.
While many can understand Musk’s frustration at not being able to move forward more quickly with the Starship test program, others insist that such regulations are essential to ensure public safety, maintain industry standards, reduce the risk of catastrophic events, and protect ecosystems.
The FAA noted that SpaceX submitted new information in August “detailing how the environmental impacts of Flight 5 will cover a broader area than previously reviewed,” thus requiring further consultation with other agencies.
Despite regulatory challenges, Musk maintains an optimistic view of the future: “Eventually there will be thousands of Starships heading for Mars and it will be a glorious sight to behold!”
Source: www.tomshw.it
