09 May 2025

SpaceX Starship: Future of Business Travel to Mars

Original Contribution by: Jen Fackelman
Updated by: Jonathan Carter-Chapman, Marketing Director, Northstar Travel Group
Re-published: April 2025
Topics: Future of Travel, Space Mobility, Business Travel Innovation
Read Time: 8 minutes

Quick Summary

SpaceX is accelerating its mission to Mars, and with it comes new frontiers for business travel and the evolving space tourism industry. This article explores how emerging technologies like the Starship and Crew Dragon are shaping interplanetary mobility, focusing on the policies, processes, and risks accompanying the first wave of multiplanetary travellers. From visa policies and insurance to Martian infrastructure and hospitality industry potential, this is your guide to what a future in Mars City could mean for the corporate traveller.

The Next Frontier in Business Travel

At events like the Business Travel Show Europe, industry leaders gather to discuss where business mobility is heading. While we've seen significant developments in AI, autonomous vehicles, and sustainable transport like electric vehicles, the question now becomes: are we ready to explore entirely new worlds?

Elon Musk’s vision for Mars is no longer science fiction. SpaceX aims to begin uncrewed Mars missions as early as 2026, with crewed flights projected for 2028. If successful, these missions will lay the groundwork for Mars City - a potential settlement that could one day host millions, including pioneering entrepreneurs, government agencies, and corporate travellers. This aligns closely with the broader future of mobility and the future of travel mobility we see unfolding here on Earth.

SpaceX Starship, Blue Origin, and the Mars City Blueprint

SpaceX’s Starship, now in its eighth round of test flights, is key to enabling commercial and business travel to Mars. Designed as a fully reusable transportation system, Starship reduces costs and increases capacity - two essential components in making interplanetary travel accessible.

It’s not the only player in the game. Companies like Blue Origin are also working on reusable orbital flight technology and moon missions, signalling a broader shift across the private space sector. Together, these efforts contribute to a growing space tourism industry that could one day rival conventional international travel.

SpaceX’s ambitions are aligned with emerging partnerships, including NASA contracts and ISS tech trials that test life-sustaining systems. For instance, Honda's hydrogen electrolysis system - currently in testing - may help generate breathable oxygen and fuel for Martian bases, making extended stays and even tourism possible.

Business Travel’s Role in Building New Civilisations

Much like the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia, early Martian settlements will depend on business travellers to bring innovation, investment, and operational structure. NEOM saw 40,000 business visits in 2022 and continues to scale.

Mars City could follow a similar trajectory, with early access given to those who bring economic or strategic value. From infrastructure design to hotel chains and conference centres, the hospitality industry will play a critical role in creating the comforts required for long-term stays.

Research from Harvard Growth Lab supports this model, showing that inbound business travel correlates with economic growth. Whether on Earth or Mars, travellers - whether for business or space adventures - are instrumental in transforming concept into community. This mirrors sentiments from other Business Travel Show blog articles which often explore how travel enables cross-border collaboration.

Martian Visa Policies and Border Control

While the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 declares space as a global commons, controlling access to Mars will be essential due to limited transport and life-sustaining resources. Initial permissions may fall under the jurisdiction of private players like SpaceX or government space agencies and air forces with vested interests.

Travellers would likely need pre-authorised electronic travel systems similar to ETIAS or the UK’s ETA. These tools could screen visitors for purpose, skillset, and risk—a necessity when each orbital flight round-trip takes over 14 months and involves high-risk factors.

Space Travel Insurance and Duty of Care

Martian business travel introduces extreme risk variables—from radiation to unbreathable air. Travel managers will need to consider new standards in risk mitigation, including:

Multiplanetary insurance policies
Advanced medical screenings
Emergency evacuation protocols
Psychological readiness for long-duration missions

It’s not just science fiction—without a pressurised suit, human blood could boil in seconds due to Mars' atmospheric pressure. With this in mind, duty of care and traveller wellbeing - hot topics at the Business Travel Show Europe - must be radically redefined for the space tourism industry.

Infrastructure and Hospitality on the Red Planet

As Mars City evolves, so too will its infrastructure and hospitality industry. Picture checking into a Mars City Hilton and receiving an Extravehicular Mobility Unit at reception. Sightseeing at Olympus Mons, or attending a summit at a purpose-built Martian conference centre, may become routine for tomorrow's interplanetary business traveller.

And beyond business lies the broader concept of space tourism - where once-in-a-lifetime space adventures could become as normal as corporate retreats. Historical trends show that where business goes, leisure often follows. The development of Martian infrastructure could mirror how hotels, airports, and convention centres were built in emerging global hubs over the past century.

Key Takeaways

SpaceX Starship is progressing rapidly, with Mars missions planned before 2030.
Business travel will be essential in developing the first Martian civilisation.
Digital border control systems will likely be adapted for space.
Infrastructure, insurance, and duty of care will all require reinvention.
Trends like electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and reusable transportation on Earth offer a glimpse into Mars mobility.
Companies like Blue Origin are also contributing to a more dynamic, competitive future in space mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Current projections by SpaceX suggest crewed human missions could begin as early as 2028. If technology and funding progress steadily, business trips to Mars may be viable well before 2050, especially for organisations with strategic or scientific interests in space exploration.

While still speculative, access to Mars will likely be highly controlled. Travellers may need electronic pre-authorisation systems similar to ETIAS or ETA, with criteria including skillset, mission role, and risk level. Visa systems may evolve under shared governance between government space agencies and private firms like SpaceX.

A round-trip to Mars would take approximately 14 months, depending on planetary alignment, launch window, and spacecraft capabilities. Human explorers would need to remain on Mars for several months before the return trajectory becomes viable again.

No. Business travellers will require bespoke multiplanetary insurance policies that cover radiation, oxygen supply failure, psychological strain, and emergency evacuation protocols. Travel Management professionals will need to consider duty of care at an entirely new level.

Industries such as infrastructure, bioengineering, sustainable energy, construction, and digital services are likely to lead the way. Entrepreneurial minds will find opportunity in everything from robotics to hospitality as Mars City develops.

The challenges for business travel to Mars go far beyond logistics. Risks include limited emergency response options, restricted avenues for return travel, psychological stress from isolation, and the need for life-sustaining technology. Every business travel conversation about Mars must also include extensive experience in risk management.

Traditional corporate travel policies won’t apply. New frameworks will need to cover long-duration missions, remote medical support, mental health checks, and equipment training. This is a potential threat to current models of business travel spending and will require input from experts in both travel logistics and human performance.

Travel Management companies may evolve into critical partners for orchestrating interplanetary logistics, from coordinating launches to managing mission protocols. Their direct link to both suppliers and businesses could make them indispensable in delivering safe, compliant, and cost-effective travel to Mars.

Business travel technology will be essential in managing crew manifests, automating supply tracking, and integrating real-time communications from Earth to Mars. AI-powered systems will also be needed to handle unforeseen issues without immediate human intervention.

Yes. Although Mars travel will be energy-intensive by nature, sustainability principles will remain vital. Reducing waste, recycling air and water, and minimising mission emissions will be part of future travel strategies. The lessons learned here on Earth will shape how slowly humans expand responsibly beyond our planet.

It’s possible. As infrastructure develops, we may see regular travel by researchers, corporate leaders, and government envoys. What begins as a rarity for human missions could become routine for those with a direct link to Martian development projects.

The first wave will likely include scientists, engineers, infrastructure specialists, and entrepreneurial minds capable of building from scratch. As Mars City grows, we’ll see more roles emerge—from legal advisors to hospitality managers—each with a stake in shaping this exciting new chapter.

Absolutely. As launch seats remain limited, expect exciting debates over who should be prioritised—those contributing economically, politically, or culturally. Equity, purpose, and planetary risk will all be part of the global business travel conversation.