Elon Musk’s SpaceX has delayed its planned Mars exploration this year to prioritize trajectory calculations for NASA’s lunar lander mission under the Artemis program.
Investor Briefing Highlights Moon Priority
SpaceX recently informed its major investors that moon-bound projects receive top priority. Officials emphasized completing lunar objectives first, positioning Mars missions as subsequent efforts.
The company set a specific goal to achieve an unmanned Starship landing on the lunar surface by March next year. This move aligns resources toward NASA’s requirements.
Musk Views Moon as Key Stepping Stone
Musk described the moon as “a barrier-free highway to Mars,” underscoring its strategic value. Current mission trajectories and NASA collaborations undergo adjustments to support this focus.
NASA recently supplied SpaceX with operational manuals for the lunar mission. In October, the U.S. Transportation Secretary urged SpaceX to double down on lunar landing development amid ongoing reviews.
Competition Heats Up in Lunar Landings
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, advances its own lunar landing system, aiming to reach the moon ahead of rivals and intensifying the race. NASA previously selected SpaceX’s Starship as the primary rocket for crewed surface missions.
The agency plans to dock Starship with spacecraft at the lunar Gateway, transporting astronauts to the surface. This forms a core element of the Artemis initiative.
SpaceX developed Starship, its massive rocket, leveraging NASA robotic technology support and billions in funding for the landing system.
