Well , that surely came out of nowhere . Last nighttime on Twitter , SpaceX determine to station a tweet . What was it about ? Oh , just the small affair of an unmanned charge to Mars in 2018 – which would make it the first private ship’s company to go to the Red Planet .
We ’ve long get laid that the party wants to beam ballistic capsule to Mars , and ultimately humans , with a recollective - full term view of colonise it one day . But , according to CEO Elon Musk himself , we ’d not bear to get a line news about their missions to Mars until the International Astronautical Congressin September .
alternatively , we now get it on SpaceX ’s very basic plans . “ Planning to send Dragon to Mars as soon as 2018 , ” they pinch . “ Red Dragons will inform overall Mars architecture , details to come . ”
design to send Dragon to Mars as soon as 2018 . Red Dragons will inform overall Mars architecture , details to comepic.twitter.com/u4nbVUNCpA
— SpaceX ( @SpaceX)April 27 , 2016
The Red Dragon they ’re referring to is an upgraded version of the Dragon spacecraft that ’s already in operation , forebode Dragon 2 . Aside from launching to space , this ballistic capsule is also intended to be capable to stir down lightly on the ground using thrusters , apropulsive landing , rather than using chute .
It appears that SpaceX is plan to use this same computer architecture , then , to send a adaptation of Dragon to Mars in 2018 . We ’ve get word somemock - ups beforeof how they ’d do this , but now we know when the first launching will be .
“ Dragon 2 is design to be able to land anywhere in the solar system , ” Elon Musk tweeted after the SpaceX announcement . “ Red Dragon Mars mission is the first test flying . ”
firedrake 2 is design to be able to land anywhere in the solar organization . Red Dragon Mars commission is the first test flight of stairs .
— Elon Musk ( @elonmusk)April 27 , 2016
It ’s unclear what this delegacy would be designed to do , whether it would have a scientific destination or merely be a technology demonstration . But , interestingly , NASA has already announced that they be after to serve SpaceX , in substitution for SpaceX sharing their own selective information from the commission . NASA , of course , wants tosend humankind to Marsin the 2030s .
“ In interchange for Martian entry , descent , and set ashore data point from SpaceX , NASA will offer expert funding for the firm ’s plan to set about to bring down an uncrewed Dragon 2 spacecraft on Mars , ” NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman say in ablog post .
Whether SpaceX does really vex to this finish of 2018 remain to be see . In edict to establish to Mars , they ’ll likely use their upcoming Falcon Heavy rocket , an upgraded version of the existing Falcon 9 projectile . We ’re bear to see the first flight of steps of the Falcon Heavy later this year , although there ’s no firm particular date yet .
A newfangled SpaceX mock - up of a Falcon Heavy establish a Dragon space vehicle . SpaceX
Launches to Mars can only take place during specific launch windows when the planet are aline , which occur every two years , so if SpaceX omit 2018 they ’ll in all probability launch again in 2020 . The first part of Europe’sExoMars delegation , for illustration , found this class , with the next part launching in 2018 .
It ’s all rather exciting . for sure , SpaceX seems to have some rather grand goals with regard to search the Solar System . And the more we search Mars , the well . Hopefully , a human landing is not too far away .
“ Mars geographic expedition promise to suffice enduring questions like : ‘ Is it habitable and did life ever exist on Mars ? ’ Newman add in the blog post . Perhaps SpaceX , with NASA ’s assistance , will bring us nigher to answering this question .
