SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced on Saturday that the company’s massive Starship rocket is set to depart for Mars at the end of 2026, carrying Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus. 

“Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on his X social network.

The world’s largest and most powerful rocket, Starship, is central to Musk’s long-term ambition of establishing a human colony on Mars.

It is worth noting that Humanoid robots are designed to replicate human appearance and behavior, mimicking facial expressions and movements.

Various companies, such as Japan's Honda and Hyundai Motor's Boston Dynamics, have invested in humanoid robots to address potential labor shortages in industries where repetitive or hazardous tasks are common.

Wider context

NASA is also relying on a modified version of Starship for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. However, before embarking on deep space missions, SpaceX must demonstrate that Starship is reliable, safe for crewed flights, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling.

The company recently encountered a setback when its latest Starship test flight ended in a fiery explosion. Although the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test, the upper stage lost control and tumbled before the live feed was abruptly cut—closely mirroring a previous failed attempt.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered SpaceX to conduct a full investigation before resuming flights.

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