SpaceX has stated its ambition to facilitate the colonization of Mars via the development of the Starship launch vehicle. The company states that this is necessary for the long-term survival of the human species and for the expansion of the scope of human consciousness.
Elon Musk at the 2006 Mars Society conference. Before founding SpaceX in 2001, Musk had expressed interest in Mars missions and briefly joined the Mars Society's board of directors.
Artist's conception of two Red Dragon capsules on Mars, next to an outpost
A scene of astronauts on Mars in the 2016 IAC presentation
Starship prototype assembled and stacked at Boca Chica
Before settling on the 2018 Starship design, SpaceX successively presented a number of reusable super-heavy lift vehicle proposals. These preliminary spacecraft designs were known under various names.
2016 artist's concept of the ITS booster returning to the launch pad
2016 artist concept of the ITS Interplanetary Spaceship, in orbit near the rings of Saturn
2018 artist's conception of the redesigned BFR/Starship at stage separation