Mars Missions and Technical Challenges in Space Exploration

Elon Musk announced SpaceX's uncrewed Starships will journey to Mars in two years, testing landing reliability. Issues with helium delayed NASA's Starliner mission, which returned uncrewed after technical problems. Astronauts on the ISS faced delays due to propulsion system issues but remained safe throughout the mission.

Elon Musk has revealed that SpaceX will launch its initial uncrewed Starships to Mars within the next two years when the Earth-Mars transfer window reopens. The primary goal is to test the reliability of the landings, with potential crewed missions set to follow in four years based on these outcomes.

In related news, NASA astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner will spend additional months on the International Space Station due to a faulty propulsion system, which included helium leaks. On Earth, SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission has also encountered delays because of helium-related issues.

Despite these technical setbacks, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully landed uncrewed in New Mexico, concluding a challenging three-month mission. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the first to fly Starliner, remain on the ISS, while the spacecraft autonomously navigated back to Earth, using thrusters deemed unsafe for a crew.

(With inputs from agencies.)