On February 8, Elon Musk announced on X that SpaceX is now prioritizing the construction of a “self-growing city on the Moon,” rather than rushing a human expedition to Mars.
According to Musk, a lunar settlement could be achievable in under a decade, potentially beginning within the next five to eight years, far sooner than a comparable plan for Mars, which he estimates would take more than 20 years.
He cited the Moon’s frequent launch windows and shorter travel times, with missions possible every 10 days and journeys lasting around two days, as key advantages. By contrast, Mars missions rely on rare planetary alignments that occur roughly every 26 months and requires a six-month journey.
While Mars remains part of SpaceX’s long-term vision, the Moon has become the company’s immediate priority.
The announcement also invites reflection on humanity’s long relationship with the Moon. It has been more than 55 years since humans first set foot on its surface, when the Apollo 11 astronauts made history. Since then, exploration has never truly stopped, and scientists continue to uncover new insights about Earth’s closest neighbor.
It turns out, quite a lot. Browse through this gallery and discover how far we’ve come since 1969.