SpaceX plans to establish a self-sufficient city on Mars, requiring over one million people and millions of tonnes of cargo. To achieve this, thousands of Starships will launch multiple times during transfer windows that open every 26 months.
Starship to Mars pic.twitter.com/yugko2BVU0
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 30, 2025
Located 140 million miles from Earth, Mars receives adequate sunlight and has a CO2-rich atmosphere with nitrogen and argon, ideal for growing plants. With 38% of Earth’s gravity, lifting heavy objects and moving freely is easier, and Mars’ day closely matches Earth’s.
Starship, the world’s most powerful launch vehicle, can carry 150 metric tonnes (reusable) or 250 metric tonnes (expendable) to Mars, the Moon, and beyond.
It will enter Mars’ atmosphere at 7.5 km/s, using a heatshield for multiple entries despite harsh conditions from high atomic oxygen. In 2026, uncrewed Starships will land on Mars to collect data for future crewed missions.
Initial human explorers will survey resources, prepare landing sites, set up power systems, and build habitats.
A permanent Mars presence requires advancements in power, mining, propellant production, construction, communication, and transportation.
Starship runs on methane and oxygen, which can be produced on Mars, enabling return trips to Earth.