SpaceX COO Gynn Shotwell has just revealed the airline’s future launch plan. According to the head of SpaceX operations, the first manned flights to Mars via the Starship spacecraft will begin in 2030. However, a preliminary step is planned: the return to the Moon in 2024.
Alongside its activity as a satellite launcher for Starlink or on behalf of the US Army and NASA, SpaceX is currently working on the development of Spaceship, a new generation of rocket. This gigantic craft (120 meters high) will be responsible for taking the first men to Mars. Also, Elon Musk has announced that he wants to launch Starship for the first time in May 2022, if all goes well.
Not long ago, Elon Musk revealed his predictions for future Starship flights. The billionaire and current owner of Twitter hopes to see a crew set foot on the red planet in 2029 at the earliest. This timeline was confirmed by Gynne ShotwellPresident and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SpaceX during an interview given to the American channel CNBC.
SpaceX confirms first flights to Mars in 2030
The manager confirms this the first manned flights to Mars will take place during this decadespecifically by 2030.”I think we need to carry out an important mission on the surface of Mars, and then the public will start to think more seriously about it. I think in five to six years we will realize that this is a destination”, she says confidently.
Nevertheless, she reminds us that there is still an intermediate stage before we move towards the fourth planet of the solar system. Take effect, SpaceX and NASA must first complete the Artemis mission, which will mark man’s return to the moon. On this subject, SpaceX says it is confident of sending the first astronauts to the Moon by 2024. The aerospace company is optimistic because of the progress made in the development of its lunar lander.
On the other hand, this optimism is not really shared by NASA. The US space agency is facing serious difficulties in developing the new xEMU spacesuits (Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Units). They are supposed to replace the current suits used for spacewalks. It must be said that they are starting to show their age, almost 50 years. Note that NASA already has plans for the future once installed on the Moon, with the construction of a nuclear power plant and the establishment of a Wi-Fi network.
Source: CNET