Elon Musk shifts short-term sights from Mars to the moon, where the race for prime space could pit his company against Chinese research base
Elon Musk has pivoted from his long-standing focus on Mars, announcing an ambitious plan to set up a “self-growing city” on the moon in less than a decade.
While it is possible both the United States and China could have bases on the moon within a decade, a space expert said it would require massive infrastructure that neither country had put in place yet.
“For those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the moon,” Musk wrote on social media earlier this week.
He added that the company could potentially achieve the goal in less than a decade, while doing so on Mars would take at least 20 years.
Musk’s statement is a 180-degree turn from a little over a year ago, when he posted on social media: “We’re going straight to Mars. The moon is a distraction.”
Source: News - South China Morning Post
