Elon Musk’s presentation “The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary”
The Musk game plan for Mars exploration over the next few years.
It appears Elon Musk finally gave his public presentation to SpaceX employees today, entitled “The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary”, and had it posted on X.
I have embedded that presentation below.
After reviewing the present development program for Starship/Superheavy (without mentioning anything about this week’s flight), Musk then outlined the game plan for the the next few years, as shown in the graphic above. If all goes as planned (not to be expected), the first Starships will head to Mars in about eighteen months, at the next launch window near the end of 2026. These flights will be unmanned, and will require that by then SpaceX will have also developed orbital refueling capability.
Musk hopes the first manned missions will take place at the next launch window in 2028-29, with the number of ships increased from 5 to 20. Later windows will see 300 and then 500 ships launched. For those flights a lot of work will need to be done to make Starships function as interplanetary spaceships, something it appears SpaceX and Musk have not yet devoted much energy to.
As always, Musk’s target goals are ambitious and not likely to be met. But as always, his targets are not unreasonable, which means SpaceX will likely eventually get all this done but late by only one or several launch windows.
Musk also noted that this entire program is presently being funded by Starlink revenues. The government for SpaceX and Musk’s space exploration plans is largely now irrelevant. This fact is possibly the most historically significant revelation in his presentation.
I strongly recommend you watch his whole speech, if only to enjoy the “Wow!” factor.
The future is going to be exciting for sure.
Hat tip to reader Gary.
The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary: an update from @elonmusk on SpaceX's plan to reach Mars pic.twitter.com/d2cnsVKK80
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 29, 2025
Readers!
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The Musk game plan for Mars exploration over the next few years.
It appears Elon Musk finally gave his public presentation to SpaceX employees today, entitled “The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary”, and had it posted on X.
I have embedded that presentation below.
After reviewing the present development program for Starship/Superheavy (without mentioning anything about this week’s flight), Musk then outlined the game plan for the the next few years, as shown in the graphic above. If all goes as planned (not to be expected), the first Starships will head to Mars in about eighteen months, at the next launch window near the end of 2026. These flights will be unmanned, and will require that by then SpaceX will have also developed orbital refueling capability.
Musk hopes the first manned missions will take place at the next launch window in 2028-29, with the number of ships increased from 5 to 20. Later windows will see 300 and then 500 ships launched. For those flights a lot of work will need to be done to make Starships function as interplanetary spaceships, something it appears SpaceX and Musk have not yet devoted much energy to.
As always, Musk’s target goals are ambitious and not likely to be met. But as always, his targets are not unreasonable, which means SpaceX will likely eventually get all this done but late by only one or several launch windows.
Musk also noted that this entire program is presently being funded by Starlink revenues. The government for SpaceX and Musk’s space exploration plans is largely now irrelevant. This fact is possibly the most historically significant revelation in his presentation.
I strongly recommend you watch his whole speech, if only to enjoy the “Wow!” factor.
The future is going to be exciting for sure.
Hat tip to reader Gary.
The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary: an update from @elonmusk on SpaceX's plan to reach Mars pic.twitter.com/d2cnsVKK80
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 29, 2025
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
This was an interesting recent interview with Robert Zubrin: https://youtu.be/BCX9YPAZa5A?si=sh2QLNvf4Q_xiKer
He appears to be the most studied in on the Mars mission situation.
He does not exactly agree with Musk on all things Mars.
“The government for SpaceX and Musk’s space exploration plans is largely now irrelevant.”
Government funding has become irrelevant. Government interference is still something that can’t be consigned to irrelevance.
Zubrin, sadly, has succumbed to full-blown Elon Derangement Syndrome. In my estimation (being someone with a tiny fraction of Zubrin’s level of accomplishment, which I fully acknowledge) he is now irrelevant to Mars colonization, other than as a historical footnote. Arguably his biggest accomplishments are championing the idea of prepositioning supplies and return vehicles, and creating the engineering milieu in which SLS became a reality. Effectively a wash.
SLS is made by a company that wanted small LH2 depots where boil-off meant they could launch endless D-IV EELVs that were left after the DOT.COM bubble burst and Teledesic’s stumble.
SD-HLLVs should have come earlier–built by a different company.
Now for Elon to used Zubrin ‘s ISRU methods to make methane–he is going to have to handle hydrogen at some point.
Zubrin is in no way a lefty.
My guess is that he figures he might get DNC support for SLS (union workers and all) if he can sell his Mars Direct as a way to do an end run around Elon, so he will buddy-buddy with the DNC if he has to.
Zubrin will have a win either way.
If we get an administration flip–and if Starship proves a failure–Zubrin will play up Marshall. If Democrats burn Teslas and buy inefficient gas guzzlers–sell SLS the same way.
If the DNC falters and Republicans stay in office, then Starship/SuperHeavy will have extra time to fly and Musk will build all that ISRU stuff without Zubrin having to beg another Sam Brownback for a NASA boost.
Optimism is such a welcome trait.
I was struck by his last remark, about societal formation on Mars. And, how it harkens to the message of Mr. Zimmerman’s book Conscious Choice. I pray they get that part right.
Are the Mars settlement promoters not paying attention?
Or are they refusing to recognize the reality of the goal?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14761593/Major-health-update-NASA-stranded-astronauts.html
“The astronauts have been going through at least two hours of strength and conditioning training daily, working with NASA’s medical team to rebuild muscle mass, restore their balance in Earth’s gravity, and prevent further bone loss.”
“The fatigue and extreme muscle loss, seen in photos after their landing, left Williams unable to get out of bed easily for weeks after the space mission.”
Human beings evolve over thousands of generations and environmental changes that need adapting to, as I generally understand things. Are those who propose the settling of Mars choosing to ignore this hard to ignore fact of human biology on planet earth? Can this cold hard fact of human existence be accelerated in order to adapt to the increased radiation and gravity differences on the planet Mars? And that is not taking into consideration the non existence of a breathable atmosphere among several other extreme concerns.
Not to mention this psychological potential: “You’re thrown together day and night seven days a week at 24 hours a day, and just like any family there’s a point where something rubs you the wrong way or something – that happens anywhere,’ Wilmore noted.”
And this is not based on multiple years this is based on mere months in space.
Am I just being a bit too cautious and cynical here?
People love concepts, that is what progress is based on, but there comes a line where technology just may not be able to overcome evolution. There is a plethora of life on earth for a very specific reason.
And I am not saying to not attempt going there, but there is a line IMO.
One aspect musk brought up that I hadn’t considered was the challenge of reusable heat shields. If you’re going to turn around and launch within a few hours, definitely need then.
Radiation (at/on Mars) is not much of a concern – living in tunnels will take care of it. Isolation is a manageable concern – careful selection (and perhaps an execution or two) will take care of it. Air is a manageable concern – if there is energy to create/extract methane, there is energy to create/extract oxygen; pressure may be an issue (is there sufficient inert gas (e.g. nitrogen) accessible? I have no idea), but also seems manageable.
The big unknown is gravity. Mars is not the space station, but is its gravity sufficient? We just don’t know.
” (and perhaps an execution or two) ”
Good point, in the long term what “ISM” will the Mars colony run on?
Behave and do as you are mandated or fear execution? It is effective, ask the Taliban.
“What “ISM” is superior, given these three core human requirements:
1. You and your family live in relative peace, safety and free from fear of your government and its abuse of power.
2. You and your family live in relative personal freedom and Liberty in what you say, think and do.
3. You and your family have the opportunity to be as prosperous in your wealth and personal property as you are able.
Below I have listed essentially all of the forms of governance “ISMS” that have historically existed and have been employed over the last 5,000 or so years. Assuming that you agree with my 3 personal requirements for a governmental organization structure and the cold hard rules of existence, tell me in real terms, which one is superior to the Objectively constructed Constitutional system that embraces Capitalism?
Absolutism: Government by a single absolute ruler (Monarchy).
Socialism: Government by a centralized state control of wealth and property.
Communism: Government of a classless society where the individual cannot own property.
Anarchism: A doctrine where all government should be abolished. (Then what?)
Tribalism: Shared tribal or familial affiliation and association above all others.
Capitalism: A doctrine of private ownership and free markets should govern economies.
Constitutionalism: “the concept of the limitation of government based around the will of the people, is based upon the idea of a social contract. The government agrees to protect the interests, the lives, and the property of its citizens, and the people agree to support and sustain their government (Study.com)”
Cotour: You amuse me. You regularly come to my site generally only to comment on political matters, which is great. You however often reveal that you don’t read much else on BtB, and in fact when you do comment on space/science matters you reveal you really don’t know much about such things, that your knowledge is superficial and solely web-based.
Coming here to tell this audience that you have just discovered that weightlessness has serious medical consequences and that Musk and those enthused about space don’t know seem to know about it is quite hilarious.
I’ve said this before: You might benefit from reading BtB sometimes. :)
As for your final question, yes, you are being too cautious and cynical. Humans are tool-makers and adapt. Finding ways to travel to other worlds and then making them livable will be exactly what we were created to do.
Surface gravity on Mars is estimated to be 3.7208 m/s2 (0.3794 g), about 3/8 of that on Earth. It is not open space with its attendant weightlessness and is in fact about double that of the Moon. When and should we get to Mars, we are likely to see some effects of the reduced gravity on human physiology, and we’ll need to study that carefully. The question is whether there is a ‘threshold’ effect of gravity on human muscle mass, strength, our tendons, etc.; if Mars is above that threshold then we’re good to go. If not, we’ll adapt.
I have learned here on BTB that I do not know as much about space, getting there and living there as I would like and so I limit my comments to other subjects.
But that does not change the fact that human beings are the product of earth and its special conditions that uniquely fosters life as I understand it.
You have to appreciate my point about living in space and on other planets that do not have the special unique conditions provided by the planet earth over the long term. No? Am I incorrect?
“Coming here to tell this audience that you have just discovered that weightlessness has serious medical consequences and that Musk and those enthused about space don’t know seem to know about it is quite hilarious.”.
What is so hilarious? I am not aware of anything that you have posted that counters my point about human beings, their biology, their ability in adapting to not normal conditions, evolution and the long term.
And I am not saying to not go to space or Mars or asteroids, not at all.
You can technically get there, but can you biologically live there over the long term successfully? Has that question really been fully answered? The basis of my observation? The “Lost” astronaut’s own testimony and bodily experience having spent just 9 months in space.
Not years in space, months. Maybe I am being naive?
If nothing else at least I am entertaining, you and your audience :)