Elon Musk announced SpaceX is prioritizing lunar city construction over Mars, citing faster feasibility via X.
Moon Over Mars
Elon Musk revealed SpaceX has changed priorities, focusing on building a “self-sustaining city on the Moon” within less than 10 years, compared to over 20 years for Mars. The mission remains “expanding consciousness and life as we know it to the stars,” he stated.
Securing Civilization’s Future
Musk emphasized lunar travel requires only a 10-day window (2-day journey), versus Mars’ 26-month alignment (6-day journey). This allows faster completion of a lunar city. SpaceX still aims for Mars within 5-7 years, with the overarching goal of “securing civilization’s future.”
Shift in Plans
The change follows SpaceX’s merger with xAI. CNN notes Musk previously targeted a 2026 Mars mission. For over a decade, he insisted Mars colonization was vital for human survival amid potential apocalypses, criticizing NASA’s Artemis Moon program as a “distraction.”