SpaceX to Shoot for the Mars in 2 Years

Elon Musk recently announced that SpaceX plans to launch its first uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years, during the next Earth-Mars transfer window. These missions aim to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If successful, SpaceX plans to follow up with crewed missions in about four years.

This is an exciting step towards Musk's long-term vision of building a self-sustaining city on Mars within the next 20 years.

SpaceX’s Starship is claimed to be a fully reusable spacecraft and rocket system designed to carry both crew and cargo to a variety of destinations, including Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. At 120 meters tall, it can carry up to 150 metric tonnes in a fully reusable configuration.

With SpaceX Starship, Musk envisions building a self-sustaining city on Mars within the next 20 years. This city would rely on local resources for water, oxygen, and building materials, and would be designed to support a growing population.

This year in June, a Starship rocket survived a fiery, hypersonic return from space and achieved a breakthrough landing demonstration in the Indian Ocean, completing a full test mission around the globe on the rocket's fourth try.

Living on Mars presents several significant challenges and the major one is Harsh Environment. Mars has an extremely thin atmosphere, about 100 times less dense than Earth’s, which offers little protection from cosmic and solar radiation. The average temperature is around -81°F (-63°C), making it incredibly cold.

Besides, Transporting supplies and equipment to Mars is a significant challenge due to the long distance and the need for precise landing. Any mission would require careful planning and substantial resources.

Musk's Mars mission will use the Starship spacecraft, which is designed to be fully reusable and capable of carrying both crew and cargo. Starship will be refueled in orbit before heading to Mars and can use local resources on Mars to produce fuel for the return trip.
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