SpaceX CEO Elon Musk predicts that if the necessary technological advancements are made, humanity could establish a sustainable settlement on Mars by the year 2055
Speaking at the recent All-In Summit, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk emphasized that a permanent settlement on the Red Planet is no longer just a dream, but could become a reality within the next 30 years, by 2055.
According to Musk, this requires an exponential increase in the amount of cargo sent to Mars during the favorable launch windows that occur every two years. This is because a Mars colony will not just consist of living quarters; it will also need infrastructure for agriculture, fuel production systems, and all the essential components of a civilization, from electronics to rockets. For those wondering why every two years: Earth and Mars align favorably for interplanetary missions only once every 26 months.
On the Way to Mars with Starship
At the heart of this vision is Starship, developed by SpaceX. As the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, Starship consists of a giant booster called Super Heavy and a second stage known as the “Ship.” Both sections are designed to be fully reusable. Both rockets are powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane. These fuels are critically important for long-term colonization, as they can be produced on Mars.
Starship has flown as an integrated stack 10 times to date, and in its latest test, it successfully completed a cargo-carrying mission for the first time. Musk announced that the next test will be the final flight of the Version 2 design, after which they will move to Version 3, which will feature radical changes and be equipped with Raptor 3 engines. This new version will have the capacity to launch over 100 tons of payload into orbit.
The Great Importance of Heat Shields
Musk stated that the most critical issue for the future of Starship is making the heat shield reusable. Recalling that the Space Shuttle’s tiles required months of repair after each flight, Musk highlighted the magnitude of the challenge, saying, “No one has ever made a fully reusable orbital heat shield. The Space Shuttle’s heat shield had to undergo nine months of repairs after every flight.” Despite this, he predicts that by next year, both the Super Heavy and the Ship can be caught and reused, allowing for hundreds of tons of cargo to be launched into orbit.
Musk explains that the goal of reaching Mars is not just about exploration but is an “insurance policy” for the future of humanity. According to him, establishing a self-sufficient colony on Mars is essential to ensure the continuation of civilization in the event of a catastrophe on Earth.
Musk said that Starship Version 3 will be approximately 124.4 meters tall, compared to Version 2’s height of 121 meters. Version 3 will be the first version of the vehicle capable of flying to Mars, and SpaceX hopes to begin the first unmanned test flights to the Red Planet with this vehicle next year. However, Musk also underlined that the final height for Starship could reach up to 142 meters.
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