First, we’re building a Moonbase on the Moon — Mars is the next step
Elon Musk@elonmuskFor those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years. The mission of SpaceX remains the same: extend consciousness and life as we know it to the stars. It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time), whereas we can launch to the Moon every 10 days (2 day trip time). This means we can iterate much faster to complete a Moon city than a Mars city.That said, SpaceX will also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about 5 to 7 years, but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster.
I agree with colonizing the moon first, but SpaceX needs to keep their foot on the gas with Mars and at least get us flags and footprints missions in the 2030's.
Toby Li@tobyliiiiiiiiii·1hSpaceX is now shifting their priorities into building a Moon Base - doing so in less than a decade.This proposal from the ISU involves converting a Starship into a lunar base, Skylab-style.Starship’s ~1000m^ 3 of pressurized volume would result in a copious base.
Maybe Elon likes it:https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2020962635156684920
QuoteElon Musk@elonmuskFor those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years. <snip>It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time), whereas we can launch to the Moon every 10 days (2 day trip time). This means we can iterate much faster to complete a Moon city than a Mars city.That said, SpaceX will also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about 5 to 7 years, but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster.
Elon Musk@elonmuskFor those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years. <snip>It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time), whereas we can launch to the Moon every 10 days (2 day trip time). This means we can iterate much faster to complete a Moon city than a Mars city.That said, SpaceX will also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about 5 to 7 years, but the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster.
While there has been interest in getting humans back to the Moon before China, by 2028 to 2030, the real competition is not for that anymore. It is for establishing permanence on Moon with habitats—the outposts.
A large amount of infrastructure—hundreds of tons—will be needed on the lunar surface for a sustainable presence. Recent Congressional action funds missions up to Artemis 5 but not the infrastructure needed for a permanent presence, which is indispensable. This is a glaring deficit in the plan.
To establish a sustained human presence on the Lunar surface and meet the objectives outlined in the NASA Moon to Mars Architecture Definition Document (ADD), critical infrastructure such as radiation shelters, plume ejecta barriers, and power/communication towers will be required to protect astronauts and other assets from the harsh Lunar environment. Constructing this infrastructure autonomously using robotic systems prior to the arrival of astronauts can help maximize their focus on critical science and exploration objectives while reducing risk to their safety during construction operations. Modular autonomous robotic construction hardware and software have been developed and reliably demonstrated at NASA many times in lower-fidelity testing environments; however, to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of this capability and prepare for operating within the uncertainties and limitations of the Lunar environment, these autonomous capabilities must be tested in a higher-fidelity, relevant environment using flight-like robotics and computing hardware.The DiLE-ARCon project team is proposing to conduct a TRL six (6) demonstration of an integrated system autonomously constructing a structure (e.g., plume ejecta barrier) inside a vacuum chamber with Lunar regolith simulant, realistic terrain features, and accurate lighting. This structure will be assembled using mass-efficient materials and vacuum-rated joining methods (e.g., laser beam welding, friction stir welding, mechanical attachment) that have been tested and proven under previous NASA projects. One of the key objectives of this project is to advance the modularity of these autonomous capabilities by demonstrating the interoperability of robotic agents to collaboratively accomplish critical tasks, building different types of structures, and identifying how these systems can be enhanced to assist with infrastructure repair and upgrades going forward, thus minimizing non-recurring engineering costs for future surface missions.
ConclusionThis study presents a detailed exploration of the complex interplay between MWCNT reinforcement and lunar regolith composites under varied curing conditions, highlighting both the potential and limitations of using MWCNTs in extraterrestrial construction. The results of the different processing routes, including ambient cured with no cycling (Route 1), ambient cured with cycling (Route 2), and vacuum cured with cycling (Route 3), demonstrate that incorporating MWCNTs significantly enhances composite strength under specific conditions. In ambient curing without cycling, samples achieved a high compressive strength of 39 MPa at 0.50 wt% MWCNT, representing a 44.44% improvement over the 0.00 wt% MWCNT sample. However, thermal mismatch between the negative CTE of MWCNTs and the positive CTE of the regolith matrix limited durability during lunar temperature cycling, causing microcracking and reduced performance. Under vacuum curing and temperature cycling, the 0.00 wt% MWCNT composite achieved the highest strength of 47 MPa, attributed to enhanced densification from accelerated moisture evaporation and an optimal water retention level of 35%, while the 1.00 wt% MWCNT sample performed the worst at 28 MPa. Addressing thermal mismatch challenges requires optimizing CTE compatibility or developing tailored CNT variants to enhance compressive strength and durability under lunar conditions. This study highlights the importance of testing composites under realistic conditions and reveals that the MWCNTs used in this study are incompatible with the regolith matrix during temperature cycling. Improving CTE compatibility is key to mitigating thermal stresses and enhancing material durability for extraterrestrial construction.
A Starship can be quickly converted as shown above. Purge the large tankage areas and you have a lot of room for greenhouses (using LED grow lights), metal separation and smelting and manufacturing. Chip manufacturing, solar panel manufacturing. It will take a lot of horizontal Starships, but it can be done. How fast, depends on SpaceX. Blue Origin could make the human lunar landers for just humans coming and going to work, and smaller tonnage of cargo.
Any official design proposals for that in work? What is TRL of tech needed for that? Any prototype tests ongoing to verify these designs and progress on its TRL?
This proposed solicitation, NextSTEP-3 Appendix B: Moon to Mars Architectural Studies, seeks partner participation on a recurring basis, targeting several calls per year for proposal submissions focused on topics addressing infrastructure, transportation, habitation, mission concept of operations, and Lunar and Mars mission science capabilities identified in the latest revision of the Architecture Definition Document. NASA intends to establish a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC), where only MATOC holders will be eligible to compete for the directed-topic calls.
What is shocking is total absence of moon base overall architecture concept despite official statements of active construction 5 years from now.
Quote from: 321 on 02/15/2026 01:01 pmAny official design proposals for that in work? What is TRL of tech needed for that? Any prototype tests ongoing to verify these designs and progress on its TRL?That linked image is from a fan concept published 5 years ago. SpaceX's actual plans are unknown, though their renders show dome shaped structures on the Moon.Searching for "Moon to Mars" on SAM.gov shows NASA is currently investigating the issue.QuoteThis proposed solicitation, NextSTEP-3 Appendix B: Moon to Mars Architectural Studies, seeks partner participation on a recurring basis, targeting several calls per year for proposal submissions focused on topics addressing infrastructure, transportation, habitation, mission concept of operations, and Lunar and Mars mission science capabilities identified in the latest revision of the Architecture Definition Document. NASA intends to establish a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC), where only MATOC holders will be eligible to compete for the directed-topic calls.
