Elon Musk Confirms SpaceX’s Moon City Plan Amid Mars Delay

Elon Musk has unveiled a major shift in SpaceX’s long-term vision for human space exploration. The company is now prioritising the development of a self-growing city on the Moon within the next decade, pushing its much-anticipated Mars ambitions slightly further into the future. The announcement comes amid intensifying global competition in space, strategic AI acquisitions, and preparations for what could be the largest public offering in history.

SpaceX Prioritises a ‘Self-Growing City’ on the Moon

Elon Musk said on Sunday (February 8) that SpaceX has redirected its primary focus toward building a "self-growing city" on the Moon, a milestone he believes could be achieved in less than 10 years. The move marks a significant strategic recalibration for the private space company, which has long positioned Mars as the ultimate destination for human settlement.

According to Musk, the Moon offers a faster and more practical route to ensuring humanity’s long-term survival beyond Earth.

Mars Plans Still Alive, But No Longer the Immediate Priority

Despite the shift, SpaceX has not abandoned its Mars ambitions. Musk clarified that the company still aims to begin work on a Martian city within five to seven years. Writing on his X social media platform, he stated, "but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilisation and the Moon is faster."

This represents a change from Musk’s earlier timeline. As recently as last year, he had said SpaceX was targeting an uncrewed mission to Mars by the end of 2026.

Investor Briefings and Lunar Landing Timeline

Musk’s comments align with a recent Wall Street Journal report, which revealed that SpaceX has informed investors of its intention to prioritise lunar missions over Mars in the near term. According to the report, the company is targeting March 2027 for an uncrewed lunar landing.

The shift reflects both technological realities and geopolitical pressures shaping the next phase of space exploration.

US–China Space Race Intensifies

The renewed focus on the Moon comes as the United States faces growing competition from China in the race to return humans to the lunar surface this decade. Humans have not visited the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, and both nations are accelerating plans to establish a sustained presence beyond Earth.

A successful lunar city could give the US and its private-sector partners a strategic edge in the emerging space economy.

SpaceX Acquires xAI to Support Space-Based Computing

Less than a week before Musk’s lunar announcement, SpaceX revealed that it had acquired xAI, the artificial intelligence company also led by Musk. The deal values SpaceX at $1 trillion and xAI at $250 billion.

Supporters of the acquisition believe it will strengthen SpaceX’s ambitions to develop space-based data centres, which Musk considers more energy efficient than terrestrial alternatives—particularly as global demand for AI computing power continues to surge.

SpaceX IPO Could Be the Largest in History

Alongside its technological ambitions, SpaceX is also preparing for a potential public listing. The company is reportedly hoping that an IPO later this year could raise as much as $50 billion, which would make it the largest public offering in history.

The timing suggests SpaceX is positioning itself to capitalise on investor enthusiasm around space infrastructure, AI, and satellite connectivity.

Starlink Takes Centre Stage at the Super Bowl

Earlier on Sunday, Musk shared SpaceX’s first-ever Super Bowl advertisement, spotlighting its Starlink Wi-Fi service. The high-profile marketing push underscores Starlink’s growing role as a revenue driver and a key component of SpaceX’s broader ecosystem.

Tesla Also Undergoes Strategic Shift Under Musk

While reorienting SpaceX, Musk is simultaneously reshaping Tesla’s future. After playing a central role in building the global electric vehicle market, Tesla is now investing heavily in autonomous technology and robotics.

The company plans to spend $20 billion this year as part of its push toward self-driving systems and robots.

Optimus Robots Replace Car Production Lines

To accelerate this transition, Musk announced last month that Tesla is ending production of two car models at its California factory. The move is designed to free up manufacturing capacity for Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots, signalling a bold pivot beyond traditional automobiles.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s decision to prioritise a lunar “self-growing city” marks a pivotal moment in SpaceX’s evolution. By focusing first on the Moon, SpaceX aims to achieve faster, scalable progress toward humanity’s multi-planetary future—while keeping Mars firmly in sight. Combined with AI expansion, a potential record-breaking IPO, and parallel transformations at Tesla, Musk’s latest moves highlight a sweeping strategy that could reshape space exploration, technology, and industry for decades to come.