According to the entrepreneur, the development of the Moon will allow us to act much faster: “We can build a lunar city in less than 10 years. Mars, on the other hand, will take more than two decades”.
At the same time, Musk’s plans to colonize the Red Planet are not canceled, and preparations for the Martian expedition can begin in 5-7 years.
The reason for the new turn
The main advantage of the Moon is convenient logistics, says the billionaire. Launches are possible every 10 days, and the flight takes about two days. In the case of Mars, missions are only every 26 months, and a one-way trip takes about six months. These factors make it possible to test technologies and build up infrastructure faster.
SpaceX has already notified investors of the new priority. The first unmanned moon landing is scheduled for March 2027.
Musk previously intended to send a vehicle to Mars by the end of 2026. However, the new timeline reflects the company’s more pragmatic approach to space exploration.
As Musk emphasized, SpaceX’s key mission remains unchanged: to secure the future of civilization and spread life beyond Earth. The lunar project will allow to do it faster, and the subsequent expansion to Mars will be a natural continuation of the space strategy.
