Mars will be colonized by humans by the year 2050, as long as autonomous mining processes quickly become more commercially viable.

Can we really colonize Mars?

Organizations have proposed plans for a human mission to Mars, the first step towards any colonization effort, but no person has set foot on the planet. However, landers and rovers have successfully explored the planetary surface and delivered information about conditions on the ground.

Can Elon Musk colonize Mars?

Musk said in December that he remains “highly confident” that SpaceX will land humans on Mars by 2026, adding that it's an achievable goal “about six years from now.” “The important thing is that we establish Mars as a self-sustaining civilization,” Musk said in a Clubhouse chat this year, according to CNET.