Overview
- Musk said SpaceX will prioritize a self-growing lunar city he believes could be built in under a decade, with Mars city work starting in about five to seven years.
- The Wall Street Journal reported SpaceX told investors it is aiming for an uncrewed lunar landing in March 2027 as part of the Moon‑first plan.
- Musk argued the Moon allows launches roughly every 10 days with about two‑day trips versus Mars’ 26‑month windows and roughly six‑month transit, enabling quicker development cycles.
- SpaceX remains central to NASA’s Artemis program with about $4 billion in lunar lander work, while Musk says NASA will contribute under 5% of company revenue this year and Starlink supplies most income.
- Starship, the vehicle required for these missions, is still in early development and has not flown an operational orbital mission, as U.S. efforts face quickening lunar timelines from China and commercial rivals.