While NASA somewhat aimlessly plans a crewed trip to Mars in the 2030s (which might get delayed to the 2040s), it looks like SpaceX is kicking its Mars colonization plans into high gear.

Just one year after it plans to become the first company to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, SpaceX is hoping to launch its first uncrewed mission to Mars in 2018.

The company just dropped this bomb on Twitter without many other details. However, a knowledgeable source says the company hopes to test technology to land large payloads on the Red Planet--an important step toward delivering the habitats and supplies that could allow for long-term human habitation of Mars.

NASA is in on the plan, and says they'll provide technical support in exchange for SpaceX's entry, descent, and landing data. At the same time, the space agency has decided to cut funding to its own experimental Mars landing technology by about 85 percent.