TIMEDO, Washington D.C., United States — With an ambition straight out of science fiction, Elon Musk announced that his massive Starship rocket will launch for Mars at the end of 2026, carrying an unexpected passenger: Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot.
The SpaceX founder made the announcement on his platform, X, stating that if the first missions go well, human landings on Mars could begin as early as 2029, though he admitted that 2031 is more likely.
The update comes after several recent setbacks for the private space company, which continues to pursue its long-term goal of colonizing Mars. Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket in the world, stands at 403 feet (123 meters) — taller than the Statue of Liberty — and is designed to be fully reusable, a key element in reducing the cost of space travel.
Starship isn’t just focused on the Red Planet. It also plays a critical role in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade, using a modified version of the rocket as a lunar lander.
However, SpaceX still needs to prove the vehicle is safe, reliable, and capable of complex orbital refueling, a critical requirement for deep-space missions. So far, several test flights have ended in explosions, including the most recent failure on March 6 over Big Sampson Kay, Bahamas, marking the second major mishap this year.
Despite these failures, Musk stands by his “fail fast, learn faster” philosophy, a strategy that has made SpaceX the global leader in orbital launch services.
Meanwhile, the humanoid robot Optimus, also known as Tesla Bot, will be part of the mission. Designed to perform repetitive, dangerous, or boring tasks, Musk introduced it as an affordable solution, expected to retail between $20,000 and $30,000. Its inclusion on the Mars mission signals a move toward automating early colonization efforts.
On the political front, Musk may have strong backing from Donald Trump, who has pledged to make Mars exploration a national priority. During his January inauguration, Trump vowed to “plant the American flag on Mars,” and recently purchased a Tesla as a show of support for Musk, with whom he shares a close relationship.
Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus.
If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely. https://t.co/JRBB95sgNN
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2025
However, that alliance has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly as Musk pushes for reforms at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), accusing the agency of slowing down Starship development through excessive regulation.
The Musk–Trump connection, along with allegations of interference in European politics, has made the billionaire a target of strong criticism, political resistance, and possible legal action—factors that could shape the future of SpaceX’s Mars ambitions.