Boeing is all in on being the first aerospace company to send a rocket to Mars. TheStreet talks with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg about the mission.

While you're digesting those Boeing (BA) - Get Reportearnings, take a look back at when CEO Dennis Muilenburg said he expected the company to fly higher, literally.

When recently asked by TheStreet (TST) - Get Report about who will be first to Mars, Boeing or SpaceX, Muilenburg said emphatically: "Boeing."

"We are working jointly with NASA and building that first rocket space launch system. It's about 38 stories tall, the first story is being built right now. It has 9.2 million pounds of thrust on that rocket, it's the biggest rocket ever. We will begin test flights starting next year."

Added Muilenburg, "I firmly believe that the first person to step foot on Mars will get there on a Boeing rocket."

Musk has stated this year that it will begin test flights of its Mars rocket in early 2019. The big-thinking entrepreneur believes SpaceX will be able to send manned rockets to Mars by 2024.

Watch what Muilenburg told TheStreet about Boeing's exposure to possible trade wars with the EU and China.