SpaceX intends to take advantage of an open launch window in 2024 to launch a first uncrewed mission to Mars. The same year, the company also plans to land American astronauts.
While SpaceX's beginnings were a bit complicated, the company has since succeeded in shaking up the space industry with its reusable launchers. Until a few months ago, these rockets were deployed only to launch satellites into orbit or to transport cargo to the ISS. Last May, another new step was taken with the sending of the first astronauts into space. The following ? Elon Musk aims now for the red planet . For information, it is this ambition that motivated the creation of the company in 2002.
SpaceX is on track to launch its first uncrewed mission to Mars "in just four years “said Elon Musk this Friday, October 16, at the Mars Society International Convention. "I think we have a chance to take advantage of this second transfer window “.
This window that Musk talks about is a launch opportunity to Mars that presents itself every 26 months. This year, NASA, China and the United Arab Emirates have all taken advantage of this opening (in July) to launch missions to the red planet. The next window will open in 2022 (the ESA should take the opportunity to launch its ExoMars mission). Elon Musk is therefore referring here to the following launch opportunity:that of 2024.
Technically, this mission will normally be launched aboard a Starship vehicle , a sort of gigantic reusable spaceship currently under development at the company's South Texas facility. Two prototype test flights, called SN5 and SN6, were operated this year, each reaching an altitude of 150m. SpaceX is currently preparing another prototype, called SN8, for a test flight at an altitude of twenty kilometers. This should be launched soon.
This Starship, in fine , will also be crowned atop the "Super Heavy", an orbital launch vehicle also under development at the company's facilities.
Note that while SpaceX initially outlined its intention to build a base on Mars, its primary focus will be "simply" to transport cargo and humans to and from the red planet, thus facilitating the development of Martian bases initiated by other agencies or companies.
If Musk's projections are correct (he is often very ambitious), this first SpaceX mission to Mars would therefore fall in the same year as that bringing American astronauts back to the Moon, as part of the Artemis program. Moreover, SpaceX is also still in the race to develop a lander allowing this return to our satellite. Society will therefore play on several fronts at the same time.
