SpaceX founder Elon Musk said on Sunday that the company is prioritizing plans to build a self-sustaining city on the Moon before attempting a permanent settlement on Mars.
Musk explained that a lunar city is faster and more practical than going directly to Mars. The Moon is closer to Earth, with trips taking about two days, compared to six months for Mars. Frequent launch opportunities and easier logistics make the Moon a strategic first step for testing technologies and life-support systems.
The Moon city will serve as a base for human habitation, scientific research, and resource extraction, supporting long-term deep-space exploration. NASA’s Artemis program also aligns with this vision, planning sustained lunar missions in the coming years.
Musk emphasized that SpaceX’s broader mission remains unchanged: to expand human life beyond Earth. While the Moon is the immediate focus, work on a Mars city could begin in five to seven years, running alongside lunar settlement efforts.
Experts say a Moon-first approach allows engineers to develop construction technologies, transportation networks, and survival systems closer to Earth, where missions are easier to support.
SpaceX is reportedly considering an initial public offering (IPO) in mid-June, potentially raising $50 billion and valuing the company around $1.5 trillion. A successful lunar city could become humanity’s first permanent settlement beyond Earth and a proving ground for Mars colonization.
With inputs from ‘India Today’