CancelledUncrewed Mars landing 2018
“Planning to send Dragon to Mars as soon as 2018. Red Dragons will inform overall Mars architecture, details…”
“The critical breakthrough that's necessary is a rapidly reusable orbital rocket. This is basically the Holy Grail of space.”
— as reported (paraphrase) · Sep 28, 2019 · SpaceX 'Starship Update' (Mk1 presentation), Boca Chica, Sep 28 2019 — full transcript ↗
The fine print
Full/rapid reusability of the whole Starship stack. On the June 16 2026 Joe Rogan interview Musk placed it 'next year' (2027), a slip from the prior end-2026 target. [Goalpost updated 2026-07-01: added the Feb-2025 'full reusability this year' (2025) restatement, then Aug-2025 'next year' (2026) — trail is now 2023->2025->2026->2027.]
The Progression
Sep 28, 2019
The promise: “The critical breakthrough that's necessary is a rapidly reusable orbital rocket. This is basically the Holy Grail of space.” · SpaceX 'Starship Update' (Mk1 presentation), Boca Chica, Sep 28 2019 — full transcript ↗
2025
Timeline pushed to 2025.
Goalpost #1
Goalpost #1
2026
Timeline pushed to 2026.
Goalpost #2
Goalpost #2
2027
Timeline pushed to 2027.
Goalpost #3
Goalpost #3
Today · Jul 16, 2026
Status: Pending · 533 days left. Still waiting.
Rapid and full reusability of the entire Starship stack — both the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage ship — is the milestone Musk calls the 'Holy Grail' of spaceflight and the prerequisite for cheap Mars transport. He first framed it at the 2019 Starship Update and reiterated it on the Joe Rogan Experience #2281 (Feb 28, 2025).
Receipts
LAST CHECKED 2026-06-26- [SOURCE] SpaceX 'Starship Update' (Mk1 presentation), Boca Chica, Sep 28 2019 — full transcript
- [REPORT] cnbc.com
- [VIDEO] Elon Musk on the Joe Rogan Experience #2281 (verified via YouTube oEmbed, PowerfulJRE)
- [TWEET] @elonmusk on X
- [TWEET] @elonmusk on X
- [VIDEO] Elon Musk on the Joe Rogan Experience #2404 (verified via YouTube oEmbed, PowerfulJRE): 'we at last have a rocket where full reusability is possible ... I think we'll achieve it next year' (i.e. 2026) @ 00:26:19
More from the feed
Cancelled
PartialStarship reaches orbit
“This is going to sound totally nuts, but I think we want to try to reach orbit in less than six months.”
goalposts: 2020 → 2022 · moved 1×
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“Most of Earth by end of year, all by next year, then it's about densifying coverage.”
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