In a bold declaration that underscores his vision for humanity’s future, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, announced plans to establish a self-sustaining city on the Moon within less than a decade. Speaking on his social media platform X, Musk emphasized that this lunar ambition is not just a dream but a feasible goal given current technological advancements.
The world’s richest individual highlighted the stark differences in travel logistics between the Moon and Mars. Lunar missions can launch every 10 days with a mere two-day journey, allowing for rapid development. In contrast, Mars alignments occur only every 26 months, with trips taking about six months. This proximity makes the Moon the ideal first step in expanding human civilization beyond Earth.
SpaceX’s mission remains steadfast: to extend consciousness and life to the stars. Musk revealed that while Mars city-building efforts will commence in 5 to 7 years, the Moon takes precedence to secure civilization’s future swiftly. ‘The Moon can help much faster,’ he stated, prioritizing immediate actionable progress.
Looking ahead, uncrewed Starship missions to Mars are slated for the next two years during optimal windows. Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, will first ensure safe landings before ferrying humans. Successful tests could see humans on Mars within four years, ramping up to a self-reliant city in about 20 years.
Musk’s roadmap paints a picture of exponential growth in space exploration. From lunar outposts to Martian metropolises, SpaceX is rewriting the rules of interstellar travel, ensuring humanity’s multi-planetary destiny.