Elon Musk has revealed a major strategic shift at SpaceX, saying the company will now prioritize building a “self-growing city” on the Moon over its long-standing goal of establishing a settlement on Mars. Musk said the lunar project could be achieved in under a decade and would take precedence because it offers a faster path to safeguarding the future of human civilization, as reported by Reuters.
Writing on his social media platform X, Musk said SpaceX still intends to begin work on a city on Mars within five to seven years, but emphasized that the Moon is now the overriding priority. He framed the decision as a practical one, arguing that building a permanent lunar presence can be done sooner and would serve as a critical stepping stone for humanity’s long-term survival beyond Earth.
The comments represent a notable reversal for Musk, who for years has positioned Mars as SpaceX’s ultimate destination. As recently as last year, he dismissed the Moon as a distraction and said the company was focused on launching an uncrewed Mars mission by the end of 2026. The new direction aligns with recent reports that SpaceX has told investors it is concentrating first on the Moon, with an uncrewed lunar landing now targeted for 2027.
Musk’s remarks come as competition intensifies between the United States and China to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon this decade. No humans have visited the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972, and returning there has become a strategic priority for major space powers. SpaceX is already deeply involved in NASA’s Artemis program, holding a $4 billion contract to land astronauts on the Moon using its Starship vehicle.
The shift also fits into a broader reshaping of Musk’s business empire. Less than a week ago, SpaceX acquired the artificial intelligence company xAI in a deal valuing SpaceX at $1 trillion. Supporters of the move say it strengthens Musk’s vision of space-based data centers, which he believes could be more energy efficient than Earth-based facilities as demand for AI computing power surges.
Financial considerations are also playing a role. Musk has said NASA will account for less than 5% of SpaceX’s revenue this year, with the vast majority coming from its commercial Starlink satellite internet business. SpaceX is reportedly exploring a public offering later this year that could raise up to $50 billion, potentially making it the largest IPO in history.
While Musk is known for setting aggressive timelines that often slip, the pivot to the Moon signals a recalibration of priorities rather than a retreat from ambition. Instead of abandoning Mars, SpaceX appears to be betting that a self-sustaining lunar city can be built faster, learned from sooner, and used as a launchpad for even more distant goals.
