Make it so (eventually): Startups are still eyeing Mars

"Space: the final frontier," one of the most famous lines in television history, has never felt more real. Every year, it seems like a new, ambitious startup wants to boldly go where no one has gone before and build the first city on Mars.

Which raises the question: has anyone actually gotten anywhere? No, not even close, but the work happening on Earth is starting to feel more real.

Getting equipment to Mars has proven much harder than expected. Even SpaceX postponed its trip to the Red Planet in late 2026 to focus on a more attainable goal of a 2027 uncrewed mission to the Moon.

Some of the startups leading the way are focusing their efforts on building up to it — kind of like generation after generation of USS Enterprises, each one better than the last.

No company has broken ground on Mars or the Moon yet. What is working is a shared strategy: build up revenue on Earth with solar farms, data centers, and construction projects, while keeping Mars as the guiding star.

The real test for these companies isn’t just reaching Mars in the 2030s; it’s whether their Earthbound ventures can keep the cash and excitement flowing long enough to make that dream a reality.

If SpaceX is second-guessing the timeline, what hope do these starry-eyed startups have?