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.