How far along is SpaceX’s Mars mission?

• SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced an uncrewed Mars landing mission by the end of next year.

• The mission is expected to feature Tesla’s Optimus robot as its passenger.

• Musk is determined to achieve this milestone using SpaceX’s reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle, Starship.

• The mission faces technical and logistical challenges, leading experts to question its feasibility.

• The main concern is whether SpaceX will be able to develop and produce an auxiliary tanker spacecraft in time and successfully refuel Starship in orbit.

• SpaceX has demonstrated its ability to accomplish seemingly impossible feats, such as the successful deployment of reusable Falcon 9 rocket boosters and the development of the Dragon capsule.

• SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas gives it a competitive edge, with the company reportedly manufacturing one Raptor engine per day and assembling the second stage of Starship within weeks.

• The 2026 mission is likely to attempt a surface landing, but the current version of Starship lacks necessary landing features.

• The high failure rate in test flights suggests further refinements are needed before Starship is considered reliable enough for such a critical mission.

• NASA officials are worried about potential conflicts of interest between SpaceX and the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), which has been pushing for extensive federal budget cuts.