SpaceX Prioritizes Moon City: Mars Colonization on Hold

2026-02-09 companies

Hawthorne, Monday, 9 February 2026.
Elon Musk announced on February 8, 2026, SpaceX is shifting focus to build a ‘self-growing city’ on the Moon, potentially within 10 years, sidelining Mars colonization for now. A lunar launch can happen every 10 days.

Lunar City vs. Mars Colony: A Timeline

According to Musk, SpaceX can potentially establish a self-growing city on the Moon in less than 10 years, while a fully developed city on Mars could take over 20 years [5]. This timeline difference is a key factor in the strategic shift, as Musk stated, ‘the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster’ [1]. He also highlighted the easier access to the Moon, noting that spacecraft can launch to the Moon every 10 days, with a journey time of about two days [5]. In contrast, missions to Mars are constrained by planetary alignment, occurring approximately every 26 months and requiring a six-month journey [5].

Shifting Priorities and Resource Allocation

The decision to prioritize the Moon over Mars signals a significant change in resource allocation within SpaceX [GPT]. This shift follows a report by The Wall Street Journal indicating the prioritization of lunar missions [5]. While SpaceX is focusing on the Moon, Musk clarified that Mars is not entirely off the table, stating the company will ‘also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about 5 to 7 years’ [6]. However, the immediate focus and resources will be directed towards the lunar endeavor [1].

SpaceX’s Lunar Ambitions

SpaceX is targeting March 2027 for an uncrewed lunar landing [1][5]. This mission is a crucial step towards realizing the vision of a self-growing city on the Moon [1]. The company’s lunar ambitions align with a broader trend of renewed interest in the Moon, with both the US and China accelerating their lunar programs [5]. NASA also has plans to build a permanent city on the Moon [7].

Musk’s Vision and Past Predictions

Musk has historically advocated for making humanity a ‘multi-planetary species’ [5]. However, he has also revised his timelines for Mars colonization over the years [6]. In 2016, he suggested passenger flights to Mars could begin as early as 2024, contingent on financing and planning [6]. Prior to that, in 2011, he estimated SpaceX astronauts would reach Mars in ‘Best case, 10 years, worst case, 15 to 20 years’ [6]. The current shift towards the Moon reflects a more pragmatic approach, recognizing the Moon as a more attainable and faster path to establishing a self-sustaining extraterrestrial settlement [5].

Sources

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