SpaceX Shifts Focus to ‘Self-Growing’ Lunar City to Enable Widespread Moon Travel
HAWTHORNE, Calif. — In a significant strategic pivot, SpaceX has announced a new primary objective to establish a “self-growing city” on the Moon, a move designed to make lunar travel accessible and sustainable within the next decade. The company has formally updated its long-term roadmap, designating the Moon as the immediate priority over Mars to accelerate the timeline for human expansion beyond Earth.
According to recent statements from SpaceX leadership, the company aims to achieve a functional, self-sustaining lunar settlement in less than 10 years. This accelerated schedule is driven by the logistical advantages of lunar travel compared to Martian missions. While a journey to Mars requires a six-month transit and relies on launch windows that open only once every 26 months, flights to the Moon can be launched every 10 days and take approximately two days to complete. This high frequency allows for rapid iteration of technology and faster transport of cargo and personnel, which is essential for constructing the infrastructure needed to support a permanent population.
The backbone of this ambitious project remains the Starship launch system, the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. Designed for full reusability, Starship is being engineered to ferry up to 100 people or large amounts of cargo per flight. The system’s massive capacity is critical for the “city” concept, which moves beyond simple exploration or tourism. The proposed infrastructure would require constant supply chains to build habitats, power stations, and life support systems capable of sustaining residents indefinitely.
“The overriding priority is securing the future of civilization, and the Moon is faster,” stated SpaceX CEO Elon Musk regarding the shift. While the company continues to develop plans for Mars, aiming to begin city-building efforts there in five to seven years, the immediate focus has turned to the Moon as a proving ground and a “backup drive” for humanity. The company has reportedly targeted March 2027 for its first uncrewed lunar landing to begin laying the groundwork for this settlement.
This announcement follows the cancellation of the “dearMoon” lunar tourism project in 2024, signaling a transition from niche private spaceflight to broader colonization efforts. By focusing on a self-growing city, SpaceX is effectively building a system intended to support not just astronauts or wealthy tourists, but a diverse workforce and eventually a permanent citizenry. The concept aligns with the company’s existing contracts under NASA’s Artemis program, which has already tasked SpaceX with landing the first humans on the Moon since the Apollo era.
Industry analysts note that prioritizing the Moon could provide SpaceX with revenue-generating opportunities much sooner than a Mars mission would. The shorter transit times reduce radiation exposure risks and logistical hurdles, potentially making the Moon a more viable destination for commercial travel in the near term. The proposed lunar base would also serve as a crucial station for deep-space missions, utilizing local resources to refuel ships headed further into the solar system.
As development on the Starship fleet continues at the Starbase facility in Texas, the company is preparing for the high-volume launch cadence required to build a city. If successful, the initiative would mark the first time in history that a private entity has established a permanent human foothold on another celestial body, effectively opening the lunar surface to general travel.
* space.com
* morningstar.com
* moderndiplomacy.eu
* kfgo.com
* fox13news.com
* clubofmozambique.com
* nationthailand.com
* flyingmag.com
* spacex.com
