Manned Mars Missions

NASA will partner with SpaceX on Mars

Starship on approach to Mars, credit SpaceX

NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, has taken the first steps to establishing a manned Mars program. Initially he must gain the consent of congress, and buried in the NASA authorization Act currently under consideration is the following section: -

“Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the act, the [NASA] Administration will complete studies on the feasibility, cost, schedule and mission design concepts for Mars-focused missions using commercially developed heavy-lift launch systems with fully re-usable architecture.”

Isaacman is a staunch advocate of the commercial approach hence the language suggests this section originated from NASA. Importantly the term: “Fully re-usable architecture” implies they will use Starship because it’s the only such vehicle available.

Trailblazer Missions