Elon Musk announced that the first city on the Moon could be built within the next decade, while construction on Mars will begin in just 5–7 years. However, SpaceX is now shifting its priorities.
According to Musk, the lunar city project has become a priority for SpaceX, as its implementation seems more feasible compared to Martian plans. He added that the pace of development for the lunar program could be much faster.
Musk explained that the changes in the company's focus are due to practical circumstances: flights to Mars are only possible every 26 months and take about 6 months, while it is possible to reach the Moon every 10 days, with the journey taking only 2 days. Nevertheless, SpaceX does not intend to abandon its ambitious plans to create a city on Mars, which is expected to start in about 5–7 years.
According to information published in The Wall Street Journal, SpaceX plans to carry out the first unmanned landing of the Starship spacecraft on the Moon in March 2027. The publication reports that the company has decided to focus on the lunar program in collaboration with NASA, temporarily postponing plans for missions to Mars.
