Goal: Reuse a booster within 1-2 hours of landing by catching, placing on the launch pad, refueling in 30-40 minutes, stacking a Starship, and relaunching.
Plan to demonstrate booster catching within 2-3 months.
Starlink terminals feature Mars transfer trajectory diagrams, as Starlink revenue supports the Mars mission.
Orbital Refilling
Planned demonstration of orbital refilling in 2026.
If successful, SpaceX aims to send an uncrewed mission to Mars by the end of 2026, aligning with the Earth-Mars transfer window every 26 months.
Reliable Heat Shield
Developing a heat shield to withstand Mars' carbon dioxide atmosphere, which produces more free oxygen as plasma, increasing oxidation compared to Earth’s atmosphere.
Estimated timeline: Several years to perfect a reliable material.
Comparing Starship Versions
Version
Booster Height (m)
Ship Height (m)
Ship Payload (t)
V1
69
50
100–150
V2
71
52
100–150
V3
73
52
100–150
V4
81
61
200
Planned launch of Booster and Ship V3 by the end of 2025.
Roadmap to Mars
Estimated mass required for a self-sustaining Mars civilization: 1 million to 10 million tons.
