SpaceX plans crewed Mars Starship launch by 2029

Elon Musk's SpaceX continues to push ambitious plans for Mars colonization, aiming to land uncrewed Starships by 2027 and begin human missions by 2029, with a long-term vision of thousands of ships ferrying hundreds of passengers every launch window. The plan includes deploying Tesla's Optimus robots to establish Martian infrastructure and survey resources like water ice, signaling a stepwise buildup toward a sustainable human presence. While the technical roadmap appears viable to experts, broader discussions about Mars colonization extend beyond technology, encompassing ethical debates over resource allocation, legal considerations, and the potential to repeat Earth's colonial mistakes. Concurrently, NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered possible biosignatures of ancient microbial life on Mars, a discovery that could profoundly impact scientific and philosophical views on life in the universe. On the technology front, startups like Starpath are developing cost-effective, space-rated solar panels designed to meet the high power demands of Mars missions, aiming to support the energy needs of future settlements. These developments occur amid geopolitical competition, with US President Donald Trump pledging to plant the American flag on Mars, while China also plans its first crewed Mars mission within the decade, illustrating the growing international interest in the red planet.