Overview
- Elon Musk said SpaceX will prioritize a “self-growing” city on the Moon, estimating it could be achieved in under a decade.
- He added that work toward a Mars settlement would begin in about five to seven years, with lunar development as the initial focus.
- Musk cited faster iteration enabled by the Moon’s proximity and frequent launch windows, contrasting two-day lunar trips with 26‑month Mars opportunities and six‑month transits.
- SpaceX holds roughly a $3 billion NASA contract for a lunar lander tied to Artemis, as Artemis II targets a March 2026 circumlunar flight and Artemis III aims for a 2028 landing.
- Starship remains in testing after multiple failures and no operational orbital flights, with a new prototype line expected in early March, and Musk has offered few technical details on the lunar city’s architecture or governance.