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“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
Standing in the intense heat at Rice University stadium in September 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared these powerful words to an audience of 35,000. It was a moment that galvanized a nation, inspiring the Apollo program and ultimately leading to humans setting foot on the Moon just seven years later. His words captured the spirit of exploration, the desire to push boundaries, and the willingness to undertake monumental challenges. It’s a speech that resonates with me deeply, and I encourage you to watch it.
Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves with a new frontier in sight: Mars. Elon Musk, the richest person on Earth, has set his sights on the Red Planet, aiming to send humans there by the end of this decade and build a self-sustaining city within the next twenty years. His vision is bold, ambitious, and, to some, seemingly impossible. But history has shown us that what seems impossible can, in fact, be achieved with the right combination of vision, technology, and willpower.
Yet, here we are, still grounded on Earth. Why is it taking so long to make this leap?
The answer, in part, lies in the cold, hard realities of space travel. Unlike a quick trip to the Moon, a mission to Mars requires precise timing due to the planets’ orbits around the Sun. Earth and Mars align favorably for a journey every 26 months, during what’s known as a “launch window.” This is when the distance between the two planets is at its shortest, allowing for a more fuel-efficient trip. Missing this window means waiting over two years for the next opportunity.
And even when we do get the timing right, the journey to Mars is no small task. A one-way trip takes around seven to eight months—long enough that astronauts will need more than just training manuals to keep them occupied. It’s a voyage that tests the limits of human endurance and technology alike, and that’s before we even get to the challenges of landing safely and establishing a sustainable presence. As Elon stated, “I would like to die on Mars, just not on impact.”
Enter SpaceX’s Starship, an enormous rocket designed to tackle these challenges head-on. Weighing in at around 5,000 tons, Starship is a two-stage, fully reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle. It’s the most massive and powerful rocket ever built, capable of carrying enormous payloads (cargo or components that a spacecraft is designed to transport and deliver) to space. SpaceX is hoping that Starship will lower launch costs through economies of scale—mass manufacturing and reusing rocket stages. If successful, Starship will revolutionize space travel, enabling missions not just to Mars but to the Moon and beyond.
Starship’s innovation doesn’t stop at size and power. Its engines burn liquid methane and oxygen, a combination that’s more efficient and can potentially be sourced from Mars itself, making it a perfect fit for long-term colonization efforts. The rocket’s stainless steel structure can withstand the harsh conditions of space and reentry, allowing it to be used repeatedly. As of now, Starship is still in its development phase, with test flights and improvements happening regularly.
It’s easy to get impatient and wonder why we’re not there yet, especially when we have the technology and visionaries like Musk testing the limits. But we have to remember that progress in space exploration is measured in giant leaps and careful steps. Each delay, each test flight, and each new prototype brings us closer to that ultimate goal of getting to Mars.
So, why aren’t we on Mars yet? Because it’s hard—just as JFK said about going to the Moon. But we have visionaries working on it. With Starship leading the way and humanity's relentless spirit propelling us forward, reaching Mars is no longer a question of if—it’s a question of when.
Dyllan Tipton is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2026. He is studying political science at the University of Louisville.