SpaceX is leaning into the moon. Here's why.

""For those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years," Musk wrote on X. "The mission of SpaceX remains the same: extend consciousness and life as we know it to the stars." "The overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster," Musk added."

"Elon Musk has long framed SpaceX's mission in sweeping terms: to send humans to Mars and make humans interplanetary. Along the way, the moon has played an inconsistent supporting role. SpaceX is under contract with NASA, for example, to send people to the moon, and that funding plays a key role in some of SpaceX's major projects. However, Musk's main messaging for years has been to build cities on Mars, not the moon."

Elon Musk plans to prioritize building a self-growing city on the Moon, asserting lunar development can be achieved in under ten years while Mars would take 20-plus years. SpaceX's mission remains to extend consciousness and human life to other worlds, with the overriding priority of securing civilization's future and the Moon offering a faster path. SpaceX holds NASA contracts to send people to the Moon, and lunar funding supports major projects. The company is also exploring moon manufacturing. The shift toward lunar infrastructure accompanies a delayed timeline for first crewed Mars flights pushed to at least 2030.

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