It is possible to securely and prudently send a manned mission that can arrive and land before Trump leaves office.
Every 26 months, launch windows open to send missions from Earth to Mars.
SpaceX is working to send five SpaceX spacecraft to Mars in 2026. Unmanned missions in 2026 could possibly be expanded with government support. President Trump has given support for sending American astronauts to Mars. If the 2026 mission is successful, a 2028 mission could include a crewed component.
Based on information from the 2028 Mars launch window, if a SpaceX spacecraft could arrive inside 60-80 days using additional fuel and on-orbit refueling, the earliest potential launch and arrival dates can be:
Earliest launch date
Earliest release date in The 2028 window falls on October 5, 2028. This falls inside the early launch period of October 12-24, 2028, which some sources mention.
Earliest arrival date
Assuming transit time is 60 days from launch on October 5:
Earliest arrival: December 4, 2028
Assuming transit time is 80 days:
Last arrival in this scenario: December 24, 2028
Key considerations
The transit time of 60–80 days is much shorter than typical Mars transfer orbits, which take about 6–8 months. This accelerated schedule would require significant additional fuel.
SpaceX’s Starship is designed for rapid refueling in Earth orbit, potentially enabling a faster and faster transfer to Mars in comparison with traditional spacecraft.
The actual launch date could also be barely later than October 5 to optimize the transfer orbit and minimize fuel requirements while maintaining a transit time of 60–80 days.
Arrival in early or mid-December 2028 would place the spacecraft on Mars throughout the Northern Hemisphere spring, providing favorable conditions for solar energy and avoiding dust storm seasons.
Brian Wang is a futuristic thought leader and popular science blogger with a million monthly readers. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked primary in the Science News Blog rating. It covers many disruptive technologies and trends, including space, robotics, artificial intelligence, medicine, anti-aging biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting-edge technologies, he is currently a co-founder of a startup and fundraiser for high-potential, early-stage firms. He is the Head of the Allocation Research Department for investments in deep technologies and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent corporate speaker, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker, and a guest on quite a few radio and podcast interviews. He is open to public speaking and giving advice.
