SpaceX finally has plans for a Mars mission. Elon Musk, the founder and CEO, has dreamed of sending humans to Mars for years. He started SpaceX in 2002 primarily to make that vision a reality.
On April 16, 2026, NASA announced that it would use SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket to launch Europe’s first Mars rover, named Rosalind Franklin. This life-seeking robot will lift off in late 2028 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The journey to get Rosalind Franklin to Mars hasn’t been easy. Originally, it was part of a joint ExoMars program, launched about 15 years ago, which included NASA as a key partner. The program had two parts: the Rosalind Franklin rover and the Trace Gas Orbiter, designed to find methane and other gases from above Mars. TGO was launched successfully in 2016. However, Rosalind Franklin’s launch, initially set for 2018, faced multiple delays.
In 2012, NASA dropped out of the ExoMars program due to budget issues. The European Space Agency (ESA) then teamed up with Russia, which successfully launched TGO but delayed Rosalind Franklin due to parachute concerns and COVID-19 supply-chain issues. The situation worsened in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, leading ESA to sever ties with Russian partners.
Fortunately, ESA approached NASA again. In 2024, an agreement was made. NASA would provide a Falcon Heavy rocket for the launch and support technology for the rover’s landing. NASA’s contribution includes advanced electronic systems and a mass spectrometer to analyze Martian samples for signs of life.
This mission is vital. Recent surveys indicate that over 60% of Americans believe that exploring other planets is crucial for humanity’s future. With a successful launch planned for 2028, Rosalind Franklin’s mission could pave the way for future exploration of Mars.
The Falcon Heavy rocket has successfully completed 11 missions since its debut in 2018. It consists of three Falcon 9 first stages. Each of these is designed to be reused, which could lower the cost of space travel in the future.
As for SpaceX, it’s also preparing its Starship rocket for Mars missions. Starship aims to revolutionize space travel, facilitating human settlement on Mars and the Moon. After successful test flights, Starship still needs to reach orbit and prove it can refuel in space.
SpaceX envisions launching several uncrewed Starships to Mars when it’s ready. However, Mars’ launch windows, which happen roughly every 26 months, mean that if not ready this October, SpaceX may join NASA in flying to Mars in 2028.
In this new era of space exploration, the collaboration between different agencies and private companies could redefine humanity’s reach into the cosmos.
