SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed on Saturday that the company’s colossal Starship rocket is slated to embark on a mission to Mars by the end of 2026, with Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, on board. Musk also expressed optimism about human landings on the Red Planet, suggesting they could begin as early as 2029, though he acknowledged 2031 as a more likely timeframe.

“Starship will depart for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If these landings go well, human landings could start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more probable,” Musk stated in a post on his social media platform, X.

Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, is central to Musk’s ambitious vision of establishing a human colony on Mars. The spacecraft is also a critical component of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. A modified version of Starship is expected to serve as a lunar lander for the Artemis missions.

However, before SpaceX can realize these interplanetary ambitions, it must demonstrate that Starship is reliable, safe for crewed missions, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—a necessity for deep-space exploration.

The company recently faced a setback during its latest Starship test flight, which ended in a fiery explosion. While the booster was successfully caught during its orbital test, the upper stage of the rocket tumbled uncontrollably minutes after liftoff and booster separation. The live video feed of the event abruptly cut off, marking a near-repeat of a previous test flight failure.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated that SpaceX conduct a thorough investigation into the incident before it can proceed with further test flights.

Despite these challenges, Musk remains steadfast in his commitment to advancing space exploration. The successful development and deployment of Starship could revolutionize humanity’s ability to travel beyond Earth, paving the way for unprecedented missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a comprehensive cleanup initiative for Washington D.C., aiming to ensure the nation’s capital reflects its global stature. Speaking at the Department of Justice, Trump emphasized his desire to present a pristine and crime-free city to visiting world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We’re cleaning up our city. We’re cleaning up this great capital, and we’re not going to have crime, and we’re not going to stand for crime. We’re going to take the graffiti down, and we’re already taking the tents down. We’re working with the administration to make this happen,” Trump stated.

The President highlighted the presence of tents and graffiti near federal buildings, particularly opposite the State Department, as issues that needed immediate attention. He praised Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for her efforts in addressing these concerns. “We said there are tents galore right opposite the State Department. They have to come down. And they took them down right away. So far, so good. We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world,” Trump remarked.

Trump’s comments came in the context of recent visits by several world leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The President expressed his determination to ensure that foreign dignitaries are greeted by a city that reflects the grandeur and safety befitting the U.S. capital.

“When Prime Minister Modi of India, the President of France, and all of these people… the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, they all came to see me over the last week and a half. I had the route run. I didn’t want them to see tents. I didn’t want them to see graffiti. I didn’t want them to see broken barriers or potholes in the roads. We had it looking beautiful,” Trump said.

He further outlined his vision for a safer and cleaner Washington D.C., vowing to transform it into a crime-free city. “We’re going to do that for the city, and we’re going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, they’re not going to be mugged or shot or raped. They’re going to have a crime-free capital. It’s going to be cleaner, better, and safer than it ever was, and it’s not going to take us too long,” he asserted.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House on February 13 marked the fourth meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s inauguration for his second term in January 2025. In less than a month, Trump has hosted several high-profile leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

NASA and SpaceX have successfully launched the Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), bringing veteran astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore closer to returning home after an unexpected nine-month stay in space. The mission took off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 4:33 am (IST) on Friday after a brief delay due to a hydraulic system issue with a ground support clamp arm.

The Crew-10 mission comprises four astronauts—Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. This marks the 10th crew rotation under SpaceX’s human spaceflight program and the 11th overall crewed mission to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Williams and Wilmore’s Prolonged ISS Stay Due to Technical Malfunction

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 2024, well beyond their originally scheduled eight-day mission. Their extended stay resulted from a technical malfunction with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, delaying their return multiple times. Initially planned for February 2025, their homecoming was further postponed, with NASA now confirming their return will take place in the coming days following Crew-10’s successful arrival at the ISS.

Political Controversy Surrounding the Astronauts’ Delay

The extended delay in bringing Williams and Wilmore back to Earth has also sparked political debate. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, along with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, accused the Biden administration of intentionally delaying their return, though no evidence has been provided to support these claims. The statements have led to heated exchanges within the space community.

Musk previously clashed with Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who pointed out that the reassignment of Crew-9 had already accounted for Williams and Wilmore’s return. Musk responded with offensive language, drawing criticism from retired astronauts. Meanwhile, Wilmore appeared to side with Musk, suggesting his statements were likely factual, though he admitted to lacking detailed knowledge of the situation.

Trump also made headlines for his remarks about Williams, referring to her in an unusual manner and making speculative comments about the dynamics between the two astronauts.

Return Timeline for Williams and Wilmore

NASA has confirmed that Williams and Wilmore are set to return to Earth a few days after Crew-10 arrives at the ISS. Their prolonged stay highlights the challenges of human spaceflight and the complexities of spacecraft reliability. With Crew-10 now en route, NASA expects to bring the two astronauts home safely after an unexpectedly long mission.