Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, announced that the company is shifting its primary focus to establishing a "self-growing city" on the Moon, prioritizing it over the long-term goal of colonizing Mars.
In a post on his X social media platform, Musk explained that this strategic pivot is driven by the need to secure the future of civilization, noting that lunar development can progress faster than Martian efforts.
"For those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years (vs 20+ for Mars)," Musk stated. He emphasized the logistical advantages.
"It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time), whereas we can launch to the Moon every 10 days (2 day trip time)." This allows for rapid iteration and development on the lunar surface.
While SpaceX remains committed to Musk's vision of a Martian city, with plans to initiate that project in five to seven years, the overriding priority is now the Moon. The company aims for an uncrewed lunar landing by March 2027, aligning with broader efforts to establish sustainable human presence beyond Earth.
This announcement follows reports that SpaceX has informed investors of the adjusted timeline, marking a significant evolution in the company's ambitious space exploration roadmap.
Musk's comments underscore the practical challenges of interplanetary travel and the strategic value of the Moon as a stepping stone for humanity's multi-planetary future.