Owner of US aerospace manufacturer SpaceX Elon Musk has confirmed the intention to send first mission to Mars on the Flying Dragon version 2 rocket in 2018, as well as to send the first man to the planet in 2024.
“It [Flying Dragon 2] is intended to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. But we are going to send one [rocket] to Mars in 2018,†Musk said at the Code Conference as quoted by the CNBC news channel on Thursday.
The rocket is due to be launched to Mars every 26 months, he specified.
The first rocket carrying people will be launched in 2024 if everything sticks to the plan, Musk added.
The Flying Dragon 2 is said to be able of carrying up to seven individuals and the trip to Mars can take around 18 months.
“I would not recommend traveling to Mars in that. It would be a long time to spend on an SUV. It also does not have the capability to get back to earth, we put that in the fine print. If you’re going to choose a place to die, then Mars is not a bad choice,†Musk noted.
The Dragon spacecraft, designed to carry both cargo and people, is performing flights to the International Space Station (ISS) on contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The first test flight of the manned Dragon is scheduled for 2017.
MOSCOW, June 2 (Sputnik)
