SpaceX delays Mars mission to focus on the Moon

� SpaceX has pushed back its planned 2026 Mars mission. The company is now prioritizing a lunar mission for NASA, according to people familiar with the decision.

� SpaceX is targeting March 2027 for an uncrewed Starship landing on the Moon. The shift aligns with NASA’s Artemis program, where SpaceX is contracted to deliver astronauts to the lunar surface using a modified Starship.

� The move comes as SpaceX leans into bigger bets. After acquiring xAI, the combined business was valued at $1.25T, and an IPO is being discussed for as early as this summer.

Mars is still the long-term goal. For now, the Moon is back at the front of the roadmap.

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