By Zainab Shafiq 
SpaceX’s relentless pursuit of interplanetary travel remains undeterred despite multiple setbacks, with CEO Elon Musk reaffirming his goal to launch Starship to Mars by the end of next year. The ambitious timeline, however, comes amid ongoing investigations into recent Starship test failures, including two high-profile explosions this year alone. Musk new plans involve sending robots on Mars, even before any human stepping in there.
Challenges in the Path for Robots on Mars
Standing at 123 meters, Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built, designed to carry humans beyond Earth’s orbit and eventually establish a settlement on Mars. But test flights have been plagued with issues. A recent launch from Texas ended in an explosion just minutes after liftoff, marking the second major failure of the year after a similar incident in January.
Despite the mishaps, Musk remains optimistic, stating that the first crewed missions could happen as early as 2029, though he acknowledged that 2031 is a more realistic target. The setbacks have prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose a mandatory investigation before granting clearance for another flight.
NASA’s Moon Mission Could Be Affected
Beyond Mars, Starship is also a key component of NASA’s Artemis program, intended to return humans to the Moon. NASA plans to use a modified version of the spacecraft as a lunar lander. However, continued launch failures could impact mission timelines, raising concerns about whether the rocket will be ready in time.
Introducing Robots to the Red Planet?
Musk has also teased the possibility of sending Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, on an early Mars mission. The AI-powered robot, introduced last year, is designed to perform everyday tasks and is expected to cost between $20,000 and $30,000. While details remain scarce, Musk’s vision suggests that robots may play a crucial role in preparing Mars for human colonization.
Meanwhile, a Stranded ISS Crew Waits
As SpaceX pushes forward, another spaceflight challenge looms. On Friday, a Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS). However, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were originally supposed to return after an eight-day stay, have now spent over nine months in orbit due to technical issues with their Boeing-built spacecraft.
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