Regulatory and Technical Hurdles Despite Musk’s optimism, SpaceX faces several challenges that could delay its Mars missions. One of the main obstacles has been regulatory and procedural issues, particularly with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and environmental regulators. These agencies have raised concerns about the environmental impact of SpaceX’s rocket launches and procedural matters that have led to delays. Musk has expressed frustration with these regulatory hurdles, referring to them as “a mountain of government bureaucracy” that has slowed the Starship program’s progress. He also suggested that these challenges could worsen under a Democratic Party administration, citing concerns over increasing “red tape.” Additionally, SpaceX is experiencing delays in other areas. NASA’s Artemis 3 mission, which will use SpaceX’s Starship to send astronauts to the moon, has been pushed back from 2025 to 2026. This mission is significant, as it will be the first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who had planned a flight around the moon on a SpaceX Starship, recently canceled his trip, signaling further uncertainties in the company’s timeline. In summary, while SpaceX is making strides toward sending missions to Mars and building a city there, the timeline remains uncertain due to technological, regulatory, and operational challenges. Musk’s vision is bold, but it will require overcoming significant hurdles to become a reality. Conclusion Elon Musk wants to send five uncrewed Starships to Mars in the coming years. If successful, SpaceX could send crewed missions to Mars in 2028-2029. SpaceX is working hard to develop the Starship spacecraft for these missions. However, there are some challenges that could delay these plans. SpaceX is facing some challenges in developing the Starship spacecraft. These challenges include technical difficulties and regulatory hurdles. However, SpaceX remains confident that they will be able to overcome these challenges and achieve their goal of sending humans to Mars. Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links. Source/VIA :