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Musk Puts Moon First for SpaceX, Eyes 2027 Uncrewed Landing

He says shorter trips and more frequent launch windows will speed progress, pushing Mars work roughly five to seven years down the line.

Overview

  • Elon Musk confirmed SpaceX has shifted near‑term priorities to building a “self‑growing city” on the Moon, saying it could be achievable in under a decade.
  • The Wall Street Journal reported SpaceX told investors it is targeting March 2027 for an uncrewed lunar landing, marking a formal Moon‑first strategy.
  • Musk cited logistics as the driver, noting Mars windows open about every 26 months with six‑month transits, versus launches to the Moon roughly every 10 days with two‑day trips.
  • SpaceX holds a multibillion‑dollar NASA Artemis lander award and faces pressure from U.S. officials and competition from Blue Origin and China as schedules are scrutinized.
  • Recent corporate moves include acquiring xAI in a deal reported to value the combined entity near $1.25 trillion, exploring a possible IPO of up to about $50 billion, and stating NASA will be under 5% of revenue as Starlink remains the main earner.