10 Years to Build a City on the Moon: Elon Musk

Elon Musk has stated that he aims to establish a city on the Moon within the next 10 years. He mentioned that SpaceX is currently focusing on building a city on the Moon, pushing back plans to colonize Mars for the time being. According to Musk, a city on the Moon could be established in less than 10 years, while building a city on Mars might take over 20 years.

Musk clarified that the Mars city plan has not been abandoned, but work on it will start in 5 to 7 years. For now, however, the priority is the Moon. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that launches to the Moon can occur every 10 days, with a travel time of only 2 days. In contrast, trips to Mars are only possible every 26 months, with a journey time of approximately 6 months. This is why work on the Moon can progress faster.

Why Does Musk Want a City on the Moon?

Musk explained that SpaceX’s goal is to extend human life beyond Earth. He believes that in the event of a major crisis on Earth, it will be essential for humanity to settle on planets like the Moon and Mars to ensure survival. While Musk hasn't revealed the complete plan for the self-sustaining city on the Moon, it is believed to be a city that won't rely on Earth. Power, oxygen, food, and industry would be self-generated, and the city would expand over time.

What Facilities Will be Available on the Moon?

Musk has previously stated that the city on Mars should be fully self-sufficient so that people can survive even if supplies from Earth are cut off. This would involve solar-powered farming, job creation, and a system where people make their own decisions.

When Will SpaceX Send Missions to the Moon?

According to media reports, SpaceX may attempt a lunar landing by March 2027, which will be an unmanned mission. This would be the first lunar landing since NASA's Apollo-17 mission in 1972. Both the United States and China are competing to return to the Moon.

NASA is preparing to send humans to the Moon by 2028. Meanwhile, Musk also mentioned that this year, SpaceX's revenue from NASA will account for less than 5%, with the majority of earnings coming from its Starlink internet service. In the meantime, Elon Musk is focusing Tesla on robotics and autonomous driving, investing $20 billion this year in these technologies.