Elon Musk has announced plans for SpaceX’s Starship to launch a mission to Mars by the end of 2026, carrying Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot. The mission aims to test the feasibility of interplanetary travel and prepare for future human exploration.

If successful, Musk expects human landings on Mars to begin as early as 2029, with 2031 being a more likely target.

These ambitious timelines are part of Musk’s vision to establish a self-sustaining human presence on Mars, ensuring long-term human survival by making life multiplanetary.

Russia has proposed supplying a nuclear power plant to support the Mars mission.