Elon Musk plans 2026 Mars trip with optimus robot crew on Starship

Elon Musk Eyes Mars Trip by 2026 With Robot Crew. (Image: SpaceX)

Mars is a little nearer as Elon Musk's ambitions expand. His ambition includes not just humans but robots as well.

SpaceX plans to launch its Starship to Mars sometime in the future. Elon Musk says it could happen by the end of 2026. Tesla's Optimus robots can also join the trip.

Musk posted on X that the "Starship will hopefully leave for Mars next year." "Optimus Explorer robots will be along with it."

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Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 2, 2025

Just hours after a NASA leadership candidate announced ambitious objectives, this news was published. NASA can partner on missions to the Moon and Mars, according to the candidate.

For travel in deep space, SpaceX is building the Starship Super Heavy. Both humans and cargo will be utilizing the rocket system. It will initially go to the Moon, then to Mars.

Starship will hopefully depart for Mars at the end of next year with Optimus explorer robots! https://t.co/8dzlxzFg0h Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2025

SpaceX is planning its ninth flight of Starship now. Engine relighting in orbit will be tested next. Controlled landing is also on the checklist.

Starship's booster, Super Heavy, has already landed twice. Such reuses mean huge leaps for the company.

Musk is looking to accelerate travel to Mars. He believes Starship has the capacity to reduce the trip to ninety days. Normally, missions take six to nine months.

Five unmanned Starship flights are on the agenda, according to Musk. They will launch over the next two years. They are targeting the next transfer window between Earth and Mars.

A human colony on Mars is the end goal. Starship is a major breakthrough for Musk. It is designed to carry both equipment and astronauts.

Musk is proceeding at breakneck speed from landing on the Moon to colonizing Mars. And he's sending robots to lead the charge this time.