Elon Musk is now focused on developing a Moon city rather than taking humans to Mars
Published on Feb 13, 2026 at 7:47 AM (UTC-5)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 13, 2026 at 12:48 PM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Elon Musk still wants to go to Mars, but apparently, the latest idea is go to the Moon first.
Partly because it’s safer and easier, but also because it’s faster.
Musk wants to use SpaceX to build a self-perpetuating city on Earth’s satellite.
And, as usual, his deadlines are quite optimistic.
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The reason why Musk changed his mind about Mars
Talking about Mars is certainly good for marketing, but not so good for reality.
Sending humans to Mars would be tricky with today’s technology.
But more importantly, it’d be a bad idea.
They’d need to find volunteers, and it wouldn’t be easy.
That’s because a return mission to Mars would take about three years, and during those three years, astronauts would be subject to an immense amount of radiation.
While the odds of surviving the return trip are slim, the odds of returning without life-altering radiation damage are virtually non-existent.
Musk is considering sending Optimus, the robot, to Mars.
That would solve the health problem, but it wouldn’t solve all the other potential issues, starting with the fact that Optimus would have to be completely redesigned to ‘survive’ on Mars.
And more to the point, it would be infinitely expensive and difficult, which is why he pivoted to a new idea: the Moon.
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So are we going back to the Moon?
The Moon is the only celestial body we’ve ‘conquered’.
And now everyone wants to go back.
Back in 1969, when humans landed on the Moon, the Space Race was a two-team affair between the Soviet Union and the US.
Things are different now, and there are new players – including China and India.
Elon Musk wants to use SpaceX to create an evolving city on the Moon.
It takes days to reach the Moon – not months – and it’s a lot safer.
The idea is to use lunar soil and 3D-printing technology to expand the city without needing to transport bricks from Earth.
Also, Musk wants to use Optimus to build infrastructure on the Moon before humans arrive.
And last but not certainly least, he wants to build lunar satellite factories and data centers for AI.
If everything goes to plan, the first unmanned SpaceX Starship landing is targeted for 2027.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
