Elon Musk has postponed an update on SpaceX’s plans for missions to Mars, stating that it will now take place after a Starship test flight later in the day.
Musk, the world’s richest person and a key supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, intends to focus more on his business empire and less on political campaigns in future. Scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. EDT from SpaceX’s Starbase rocket facility in Texas, Musk announced on social media that the talk had been delayed until after the Starship Flight 9 launch at 7:30 p.m. EDT. The speech is expected to reveal new timelines and roadmaps for sending SpaceX’s Starship rocket system to Mars — a challenging destination that SpaceX has been pursuing. Despite difficulties with the Starship programme, Musk’s vision for interplanetary life continues to influence U.S. space policy and NASA’s cosmic strategy. Trump’s attendance at a Starship test launch and public support for Musk’s vision of a Mars colony underscore the billionaire’s influence on the space agenda. However, the White House’s proposed budget cuts to NASA could impact programmes criticised by Musk and other space industry leaders. However, Musk’s shift away from government involvement does not diminish his influence, as evidenced by his continued role in shaping U.S. space policy.
