Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Elon Musk, comparing him to Sergei Korolev, the chief engineer behind the Soviet Union's space success in the 1950s and 1960s. Putin made the comparison during a discussion on Russia's space policy with students, according to state news agency TASS.
Putin noted Musk's focus on ambitious ideas, even those that seem improbable. He drew parallels between Musk and Korolev, who played a crucial role in the Soviet Union's successful mission of sending Yuri Gagarin on the world's first manned spaceflight in 1961. Putin stated that individuals like Musk are exceptional, driven by a singular vision, and that such ideas often become reality.
Musk has announced plans for Starship to potentially fly to Mars by late 2026, with manned flights possibly beginning as early as 2029, though 2031 is more likely. The Starship rocket will carry Tesla's humanoid robot “Optimus” on board. This will be a test before SpaceX move on to “human landings”.