WASHINGTON:
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, announced on Saturday that the company’s massive Starship rocket is set to embark on a mission to Mars by the end of 2026. The spacecraft will carry Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, with the potential for human landings to follow as early as 2029.
In a post on his X social network, Musk stated, “Starship will depart for Mars at the end of next year, with Optimus on board. If these initial landings are successful, human missions could begin as soon as 2029, though 2031 is a more probable timeline.”
Musk, who also serves as CEO of Tesla, unveiled the Optimus robots during an event last year. He highlighted their potential to perform everyday tasks and even provide companionship in the future. The robots are expected to be priced between $20,000 and $30,000 upon release.
Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket in the world, is central to Musk’s ambitious goal of establishing a human colony on Mars. Standing at 403 feet (123 meters) tall—approximately 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty—the rocket is designed to be fully reusable, marking a significant step forward in space exploration technology.
