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Early habitation might be within the Starship itself, utilizing its spacious living quarters before transitioning to newly constructed habitat modules. These modules are designed with protective features against Martian elements like radiation and dust, facilitating a more sustainable living environment.
Timeline for Development
Initial projections for Mars missions have evolved significantly. Elon Musk anticipates that the first uncrewed Starship mission to Mars could occur within the next two years, possibly between late 2026 and early 2027. Following this, the first crewed missions may launch around late 2028 or early 2029. The ultimate goal is to have Mars Base Alpha operational by 2030—a timeline that demands relentless progress from SpaceX.