Screenshot of SpaceX video , in which billionaire Elon Musk presents the roadmap for developing and sending Starship to Mars
According to Reuters news agency on May 29 (US time), billionaire Elon Musk has just revealed plans to conduct an unmanned flight by Starship to Mars at the end of 2026.
Ambitious Mars exploration progress
In a video posted by his rocket company SpaceX, Mr. Musk detailed the development roadmap for the Starship complex.
The world's richest man explained that the end of 2026 coincides with the time when Mars and Earth align around the Sun, thereby narrowing the distance between the two planets to the shortest.
These events, which happen every two years, typically last 7-9 months. Musk admitted SpaceX only has a 50% chance of meeting that deadline, and will have to wait another two years to try again.
The first flight to Mars is expected to carry a “simulated crew” of one or more Optimus humanoid robots built by Tesla, a company also owned by Mr Musk.
If the first flight is successful, SpaceX will attempt manned flights on subsequent flights.
SpaceX's boss outlined a vision that every two years, the company will launch 1,000 to 2,000 ships to Mars to quickly build a permanent, self-sustaining settlement for humans.
Starship testing will be ramped up
The 9th test flight of the Starship on May 28 - Photo: REUTERS
Mr. Musk and SpaceX's ambitious plans depend entirely on the progress of the Starship complex.
Just on May 28, SpaceX conducted the ninth test flight of this rocket-spaceship complex.
The complex has passed the first stage, successfully separating the upper stage, the Ship 35 spacecraft, from the Super Heavy booster stage and launching the spacecraft into space.
However, about 30 minutes after launch, Ship 35 experienced a fuel leak, resulting in the loss of control of its flight direction and falling into an uncontrolled state in space. The Super Heavy booster stage could not be recovered and exploded in mid-air.
Although both stages of the complex were destroyed, this test flight was still considered to have made much progress compared to previous tests. On that basis, Mr. Musk still announced that he would carry out the next test flights in a rush.
Musk stressed that the success of the mission to Mars in late 2026 depends on whether Starship can successfully perform various technical tasks during test flights. One of the most difficult tasks required is refueling after launch in Earth orbit.
NASA is pursuing the goal of returning humans to the surface of the Moon with Starship as early as 2027, more than 50 years after the last human landing on the natural satellite. The lunar mission would be a precursor to sending astronauts to Mars in the 2030s.
The video of the Starship development roadmap was posted just one day after Mr. Musk officially left his job at the White House. Over the past several weeks, the billionaire has repeatedly stated that he wants to leave politics to focus on his two "brainchildren" and "golden gooses": Tesla and SpaceX.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ong-musk-muon-phong-starship-len-sao-hoa-trong-nam-2026-20250530133239466.htm
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