Can SpaceX Reach Mars Orbit by 2026?

Can SpaceX Reach Mars Orbit by 2026?

SpaceX says it plans to launch Starship to Mars in the next planetary window—late 2026. In this episode, we break down exactly what that means and what has to happen between now and then for it to work.

We cover:

  • The current status of Starship flight testing and Raptor 3 development

  • Why in-orbit refueling is a non-negotiable requirement for Mars missions

  • How SpaceX plans to land on Mars using belly-flop entry and engine-assisted descent

  • The timeline of upcoming tests needed to prove Starship is ready

  • How Artemis missions could force a delay if Starship is needed for the Moon

  • What Elon Musk means when he gives “50/50 odds” of making the 2026 Mars window

  • The risks of pad damage, regulatory slowdown, or manufacturing bottlenecks

  • What a Mars success—or failure—in 2026 would mean for the years ahead

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a full understanding of how close SpaceX really is to interplanetary flight, and why the next 18 months are so important.

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SpaceX sets Monday Starship launch for repeat full-mission test

SpaceX sets Monday Starship launch for repeat full-mission test

SpaceX targets an 8 a.m. ET window to fly Starship with booster and ship splashdowns for data on reentry, guidance, and engine control. The mission advances reliability for Artemis lunar work, national security payloads, and Starlink scale-up.

12 Loka 7min

Zeekr 001 FR Cuts EV Charging to 11 Minutes

Zeekr 001 FR Cuts EV Charging to 11 Minutes

Zeekr’s new 001 FR can add 310 miles of range in just over 11 minutes using CATL’s Qilin battery and an 800-volt system. The production model delivers 1,265 horsepower, charges faster than any Tesla or Porsche, and marks a major leap for real-world EV performance.

12 Loka 11min

Tesla’s Cybercab Prototype Spotted

Tesla’s Cybercab Prototype Spotted

A covered vehicle at Tesla’s Palo Alto HQ appears to match the shape of the upcoming robotaxi, signaling that the company has begun building Cybercab hardware

10 Loka 15min

Musk Settles $128M Lawsuit With Fired Twitter Execs

Musk Settles $128M Lawsuit With Fired Twitter Execs

Elon Musk has agreed to pay $128 million to four former Twitter executives he fired after acquiring the company, ending a legal battle over unpaid severance.

9 Loka 12min

Tesla’s new “affordable” Model Y and Model 3

Tesla’s new “affordable” Model Y and Model 3

Tesla’s new “affordable” Model Y and Model 3 trim prices but not enough to change the market—they buy the company time, not transformation.

8 Loka 29min

Tesla Teases New EV , Roadster or $25K Model?

Tesla Teases New EV , Roadster or $25K Model?

Tesla’s six-second teaser has sparked debate over whether the company will finally unveil the long-delayed Roadster or debut its long-promised affordable EV. The reveal could reset Tesla’s trajectory heading into 2025.

7 Loka 15min

Elon Musk’s Top Talent Keeps Quitting

Elon Musk’s Top Talent Keeps Quitting

Senior leaders across Tesla, xAI, and X are leaving amid burnout, political friction, and strategic chaos, raising questions about how long Musk’s empire can run at this pace.

6 Loka 8min

Tesla Pushes FSD v14 Release to Monday Amid Final Testing

Tesla Pushes FSD v14 Release to Monday Amid Final Testing

Elon Musk delays Tesla’s Full Self-Driving v14 rollout again, citing last-minute testing. The update promises a unified driving stack, smoother behavior, and stricter driver monitoring — but it’s still not in customer hands.Level up your social media at https://wilwaldon.com

5 Loka 7min