Musk Aims for Mars Flights by 2029, Prioritizes Starship Development

Elon Musk announced plans for Starship to fly to Mars before the end of next year, with potential human missions as early as 2029, though 2031 is more likely. The initial Mars flight will include the Optimus robot. SpaceX faces delays, including Starship's explosion during recent Texas tests, pending FAA investigation. NASA plans to use Starship for lunar missions under Artemis. Musk envisions building self-sufficient cities on Mars, each housing up to a million people, connected by Starlink. Despite setbacks, Musk aims for 1,000 Starship flights annually, transporting 10 million tons of cargo to Mars for city construction.