Italy Secures Spot on SpaceX’s First Commercial Mars Missions with Starship

SpaceX has secured its initial customer for cargo missions to Mars utilizing its next-generation Starship rocket. The Italian Space Agency (ASI) announced Tuesday that it has finalized an agreement to transport a suite of scientific experiments aboard the inaugural commercial flights intended for the Red Planet.

According to ASI officials, the payloads will encompass a plant cultivation study, a weather observation device, and a radiation detection instrument. These investigations aim to gather crucial data throughout Starship’s roughly six-month journey from Earth to Mars, including observations during descent and surface operations.

Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX, acknowledged the partnership with enthusiasm. The company is actively developing Starship, a monumental two-stage rocket designed for interplanetary travel and envisioned as a pivotal technology in enabling sustained human presence on Mars—a long-term aspiration championed by SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

Despite considerable progress, significant development hurdles remain before Starship can embark on its maiden voyage to Mars. The vehicle has yet to achieve Earth orbit during testing. SpaceX is presently preparing for Flight 10 of the Starship program, anticipated to launch later this month.