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Bitcoin Entrepreneur to Lead SpaceX's Inaugural Mars Mission

Chun Wang, co-founder of F2Pool, will lead SpaceX's first private mission to Mars, with plans for a lunar flight beforehand.

Daniel Kim
May 22, 2026 1 min read
Bitcoin Entrepreneur to Lead SpaceX's Inaugural Mars Mission

Chun Wang Appointed to Head Mars Mission

Chun Wang, a co-founder of F2Pool, one of China’s earliest Bitcoin mining pools, has been selected by SpaceX to lead its inaugural private crewed mission to Mars. While the exact launch date is still pending, this announcement comes amid the backdrop of SpaceX's ongoing developments with its Starship program.

Preparation for Mars Journey

Before the Mars venture, Wang will participate in a mission around the Moon, serving as preparatory groundwork for the ambitious Mars flight. During a livestream announcing his role, Wang expressed enthusiasm for the journey, stating, "Let’s start with a flyby first," highlighting the importance of preliminary explorations.

Experience and Vision

Wang is no stranger to space travel, having previously led a mission aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, which marked a historic flight over the Earth’s poles. In his words, “I verified space” during that experience, underscoring the thrill of space exploration. Looking ahead, he is optimistic about the potential to settle on Mars, declaring, "Mars will no longer be a distant fantasy." He envisions a timeline where humans may inhabit the planet within the next two decades.

Challenges Ahead

Despite Wang's confidence, there remain significant technical hurdles for SpaceX's Starship, which has yet to achieve an orbital flight. Elon Musk has set a goal of an uncrewed Starship mission to Mars by late 2026, with the first human landings projected for 2029. These plans are further fueled by a broader push for deep space exploration in the current U.S. political climate, described by President Donald Trump as part of America’s "manifest destiny."