Billionaire Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX is shifting its immediate priorities toward the implementation of lunar programs ahead of the long-term goal of colonizing Mars.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the entrepreneur shared these updates on his X social media platform.
According to Musk, a "self-sustaining" city will be established on the Moon in less than a decade, while the construction of a base on Mars is expected to commence in approximately 5 to 7 years.
The businessman noted that the lunar program is currently a higher priority to ensure the future of civilization in a shorter timeframe. Furthermore, SpaceX plans to send an uncrewed lander to the Moon by March 2027. This follows Musk's previous commitment made last year to launch an uncrewed mission to Mars by the end of 2026.
SpaceX, founded by Musk in 2002, has revolutionized the aerospace industry with its reusable rocket technology, specifically the Falcon 9 and Starship programs. The Starship spacecraft is central to these ambitious plans, designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. As NASA's primary partner for the Artemis program, SpaceX is tasked with developing the Human Landing System (HLS) to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
