Elon Musk says SpaceX is shifting its near-term priorities from Mars settlement plans to building what he calls a “self-growing city on the Moon,” arguing that the lunar target is faster and more achievable. In a Musk claimed the company could complete it in less than 10 years, while doing the same on Mars would take more than 20 years.

This marks a major shift for the aerospace company, as Musk points out that the logistics of first completing a proof of concept on the moon are easier with launch windows and proximity to Earth. SpaceX’s founder is notorious for promising optimistic timelines that never materialize, and that a base on Mars will be ready for the first inhabitants by 2024.

on in other posts Musk “Mars will start in 5 or 6 years, so it will do the same with the Moon, but the Moon will be the first focus.” He also said that a manned Mars flight could happen .

Earlier last year Musk said in that SpaceX is going “straight to Mars” and that “the Moon is a distraction.” This is in response to the Space industry analyst pointing out that among other considerations, lunar regolith, a material found on the surface of the moon, is about 45 percent oxygen. In 2023 NASA confirmed this oxygen which can provide significant savings in payload as opposed to sending liquid oxygen between Earth and Mars.

at NASA where SpaceX is the contractor is planned to see humans back on the lunar surface in 2028. Artemis II, where astronauts will orbit the moon before returning to Earth, is in March this year.