For centuries, Mars has captivated the human imagination. It is the mysterious red dot in the sky that seduces explorers, scientists and dreamers. From ancient astronomers tracking unstable orbits to modern engineers designing spacecrafts and landing on dusty surfaces, Mars always feels out of reach. But that’s changing. ”
SpaceX is still moving forward with its most ambitious goals. It sends humans to Mars. Elon Musk’s plans reside on Starship, a fully reusable rocket system, and the classic orbital manipulation: Hohmann Transfer Orbit, which has been on Astronautics Playbook since the 1920s.
But how do you move a huge spacecraft over millions of kilometers with limited fuel and limited timing? That’s where orbital mechanics comes in, and understanding that helps explain why SpaceX is betting on this particular route to the Red Planet.
Why are planets (almost) in orbit on the same plane and why it’s important
One reason Hohmann’s transfer works is that planetary orbits are not scattered in 3D space. They are almost flat and sit in what is called the zodiac plane. This is not random. This remains in how our solar system was formed.
About 4.5 billion years ago, a rotating cloud of gas and dust collapsed under its own gravity. Spinned faster, it flattened onto the disc, similar to how the pizza dough stretches when thrown. It was formed within the disc and inherited its flat structure.
Most planets are in orbit within 7 degrees of this plane. UTO Pun is a strange ball that has probably tilted about 17° due to fine-tuning of gravity over time. However, a relatively flat layout is a big win for spacecraft navigation. It keeps moving between planets such as Earth and Mars simpler and more fuel efficient.
Observations of young star systems such as HL Tauri show similar flat disk layers, confirming that this is not a one-off. That’s how planetary systems evolve in general.
How the Hohmann Transfer Track works
First described in 1925 by German engineer Walter Hohmann, the Hohmann transfer orbit is a fuel-saving way to acquire a spacecraft from one orbit to another. In the case of inter-earth, you are moving from Earth’s orbit around the Sun to Mars’ orbit.
This method uses two engine burns. The first engine burn pushes the spacecraft out of Earth’s orbit and into an elongated elliptical orbit that intersects Mars’ path. The second burn occurs near Mars, allowing the spacecraft to slow down and adjust to the planet’s speed and orbit.
Why use this method? Because it’s efficient. It takes nine months, but there is less fuel. This is important when sending huge payloads across the space.
In a video shared by Teslacomics on X, Elon Musk explains the size of this journey. “It’s about 1,000 times more farther than going to the moon,” he said. Such a distance requires smart planning and a lot of patience.
This is insane… This is how SpaceX moves orbit from Earth to Mars. pic.twitter.com/tvkuzspghf
– Teslacomics (@teslacomics) May 29, 2025
The role of the spacecraft in all of these
The spaceship is not just another rocket, it’s SpaceX tickets for long-distance space travel. It is completely reusable and is designed to allow both cargo and crew to orbit, the moon and ultimately to Mars.
The system includes the spacecraft itself and the ultra-heavy boosters that make up the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built. SpaceX has already demonstrated important milestones, including catching ultra-heavy boosters in the air, an early step towards quick turnaround and reusability.
The Hohmann Transfer Orbit fits well with Starship’s game plan. The first burn pushes it into the transfer trajectory. The second one close to Mars helps to coincide with the orbit of the red planet. Most often using solar gravity, spacecraft can carry heavier payloads with less fuel.
This is a method that space agencies have been using for decades. Now SpaceX is scaling it.
Timing is everything
There’s a catch. You cannot start on Mars at any time. Earth and Mars line up only with Hohmann’s transfers every 26 months. These launch windows are concise, have one meaning and can wait for the next two years.
Musk points out this in the same video. “Every 26 months, the tracks line up and a transit window opens.” The cycle drives SpaceX’s plans and past NASA mission schedules like patience and insights.
The whole picture
SpaceX’s endgame is not just about landing on Mars, but also about building permanent, self-supporting colonies. That vision has been burned into the company’s DNA since its early days. But once you get there, there’s no one launch. That is to make the round-trip viable, affordable and repeatable.
Hohmann’s transfer is a practical step in that direction. It’s predictable. Saves fuel. And it blends well with how the spacecraft is designed: large, reusable, ready for deep space.
Reusable rockets like the Falcon 9 have already shown that they can dramatically reduce the cost of space access. Starship aims to take that further by taking interplanetary travels that can be done not only once in history books but also over and over again.
It’s still ahead
Even with solid transfer plans, Mars is not an easy ride. A 9 month trip with zero gravity means dealing with muscle loss, bone density issues, and exposure to space radiation. Also, there is no room for error. The key to orbital manipulation and landing on Mars is the key.
However, SpaceX is used for building, testing, failing, and fast iterations in public places. That approach may give you an advantage in tackling these challenges one by one.
If Starship succeeds in the Hohmann Transfer Mission, it not only proves concept, it marks the beginning of a new phase of space travel. Things that activate on Mars are routine and not rare.
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