NEW YORK, Feb 7, 2026, 08:13 (EST)
- According to a report, SpaceX informed investors it aims to attempt an uncrewed moon landing in March 2027
- The change delays the previously scheduled uncrewed Mars mission from the end of 2026
- Starship plays a key role in NASA’s Artemis mission to send astronauts back to the moon
According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal on Friday, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has shifted its focus to the moon first, pushing Mars plans further down the line. The company aims for an uncrewed moon landing in March 2027, the report stated. Reuters
Timing is crucial since NASA is relying on SpaceX’s Starship to serve as the lunar lander for Artemis III, the moon-landing mission set for 2028. SpaceX’s development speed is now a vital factor in the U.S. push to return to the moon, a goal that’s taken on added urgency as China advances its own lunar plans. Reuters
This comes as SpaceX balances massive ambitions, hefty hardware, and significant funding. Starship’s job is the tough one: hauling heavy loads, refueling in orbit, and landing safely. Those critical phases are still under trial.
The Journal reported that SpaceX has informed investors its next big goal is a moon landing, postponing Mars plans for now. SpaceX didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment. Wsj
Musk has consistently positioned Mars as the ultimate goal. Back in May, he set a target for an uncrewed Starship mission to Mars by late 2026, putting the chances at “50-50,” according to a Reuters report. Reuters
Starship is SpaceX’s stainless-steel rocket designed for full reusability—built to launch, land, and take off again. The company has promoted it as the key vehicle for missions to the moon and Mars. Investing
The moon push isn’t occurring in isolation. NASA has picked Blue Origin as the second provider for human landing systems on a future Artemis mission, creating a rival lunar lander program alongside SpaceX’s Starship project. Nasa
According to Reuters, the Journal’s report comes on the heels of SpaceX agreeing to buy Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, with the deal pegging SpaceX’s value at $1 trillion and xAI’s at $250 billion.
Musk described the merger as “the next chapter” in the companies’ mission. According to PitchBook senior emerging spaces analyst Ali Javaheri, Starlink “was already a cash flow engine,” and the AI partnership introduces an additional revenue stream as SpaceX considers a future IPO. Reuters
SpaceX hasn’t spelled out how shifting to a moon-first schedule would impact its NASA commitments. Still, Starship faces major hurdles it’s never cleared at full scale. Key among them: orbital refueling — the process of topping off a spacecraft’s tanks in Earth orbit to ensure it has enough fuel for long-haul missions beyond our planet.
The March 2027 deadline isn’t guaranteed: delays in flight tests, hurdles with regulatory approvals, or problems with in-orbit refueling could all push back the lunar mission. Missing the Mars launch window by even a few months might mean waiting years due to planetary alignment constraints.
No one has set foot on the moon since Apollo 17 back in 1972. U.S. officials promote the Artemis program as a move to maintain their edge while China ramps up its space ambitions. According to the Journal, SpaceX is currently pitching to investors that Starship’s next major goal is a moon landing, not Mars.
