SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has made space plans more precise in the coming years: the company will first focus on building a "self-developing city" on the Moon, and the construction of a base and city on Mars will begin gradually later. He announced this in a comment on the social network "X."
Musk explained that the lunar project is a "quick-to-reach" goal: it can be launched in less than 10 years. The formation of a permanent settlement on Mars takes much longer - more than 20 years.
Why the Moon? It's not about the "dream" here, but about simple logistics. Musk says: Flights to the Moon can be arranged approximately every 10 days, and the journey is relatively short - about two days. A trip to Mars is only possible during periods when the planets coincide - once every 26 months, and a one-way flight lasts approximately six months. In short: the Moon is a "fast test," Mars is a "long marathon."
Nevertheless, Musk did not cover up the topic of Mars. He emphasized that SpaceX still intends to build a city on Mars and will try to start these works in approximately 5-7 years. But the main priority is "insuring" the future of civilization, and on this path, the Moon will yield results faster, says the entrepreneur.
There's another big signal behind these statements: according to media reports, SpaceX has conveyed to investors that it will pay more attention to lunar programs in the near future. Reports even mention the goal of an unmanned lunar landing in March 2027.
Of course, we must not forget the difference between "plan" and "reality": every big step in the Universe is engineering, security, finance, and political cooperation. But Musk's logic is clear: if you can fly to the Moon more often, it will be easier to test the technology faster, fix bugs faster, and gradually expand the infrastructure. Mars, on the other hand, costs every attempt too much because of the limited "window."
Most interestingly, this approach doesn't kill "romanticism," but rather systematizes it. If a successful "town" is launched on the Moon, the most important thing on the way to Mars will appear - experience and confidence. The conclusion is simple: first "capture" what's near, then take a firm step far. (Yes, it's like a gym: first the uniform, then the record.)
Looking into the future, these decisions could accelerate the entire industry: as lunar missions increase, competition in new materials, energy solutions, life support systems, and logistics will intensify. Mars is the next big target. That is, the "great dream" is still alive, only now it lives by the calendar and calculations.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
