Elon Musk is pushing SpaceXs Starship toward Mars with uncrewed missions set for 2026. Crewed flights are expected by 2028, marking a significant leap toward a human presence on the Red Planet. Elon Musks Mars

"These will be uncrewed to test the reliability of landing intact on Mars," Musk said, adding if those landings go well, his space company will launch its first crewed flights to Mars in four years. "Flight rate will grow exponentially from there, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city in about 20 years," the billionaire said.