Starship Super Heavy’s project to Mars

CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, intends to launch his first unmanned Starship Super Heavy spacecraft to Mars during the 2026 launch window

Elon Musk has tons of projects for 2026. But first, what is a “launch window”?  

Launch Window is the period when a particular rocket must launch to reach its intended target. If the rocket fails to reach the launch window, it must wait for the next one to open and that is the reason SpaceX is able to only put their projects in practice every 2 years. 

The Earth-Mars launch window of opportunity occurs every 26 months and is essential to maximize mission efficiency and success. It is based on the principle of the Hohmann transfer orbit (most economical path for a spacecraft to take from one planet to another), which is the most efficient path between two planets. 

“The first Starships to Mars will launch (in two years) when the next Earth-to-Mars launch window opens. They will be uncrewed to evaluate the reliability of landing intact on Mars. If these landings are successful, the first crewed flights to Mars will be in four years” – announced Elon Musk, making clear what he has in mind for the following years. 

The 2022 launch window received a lot of mission requests. The upcoming 2024 and 2026 windows are expected to be useful for sending additional supplies and potentially the first human missions to Mars, commonly known as the Red Planet. 

Works Cited:  

“Executive Digest.” Executive Digest - a Leitura Indispensável Para Executivos, 5 July 2018, executivedigest.sapo.pt/noticias/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.