SpaceX delays Mars mission, focusing on moon landing instead.

SpaceX has postponed its planned Mars mission for this year and instead shifted its focus to a long-term commitment to a moon mission for NASA. According to reports, SpaceX has informed investors that it will prioritize the moon mission, with the Mars trip being postponed to the future. Another source mentioned that SpaceX's goal is to achieve an unmanned moon landing in March 2027. Amid this strategic shift, SpaceX is ramping up efforts to send artificial intelligence data centers into space, following the announcement of its acquisition of Elon Musk's startup xAI. The deal, announced on Monday, valued the merged company at $1.25 trillion. SpaceX also plans to move forward with an IPO, potentially as early as this summer. In an internal memo announcing the merger, Musk, who also serves as SpaceX's CEO, outlined the company's plans to help establish a permanent presence on the moon and mentioned using the moon as a base for deeper space exploration. He said, "By achieving space data centers, the capability we unlock will provide the funding and support for self-sustaining bases on the moon, the entire civilization on Mars, and eventually expanding into the universe." A few years ago, NASA hired SpaceX to modify its Starship spacecraft to be capable of docking near the moon with other spacecraft, carrying astronauts, and sending American astronauts to the lunar surface. Returning American astronauts to the moon is a key component of NASA's Artemis space exploration program. SpaceX has used billions of dollars in funding from NASA to help develop the Starship, a rocket designed to be over 400 feet tall and fully reusable. Last year, Musk referred to the moon as a "distraction" and said SpaceX would "go straight to Mars." Media reports previously indicated that Musk had lobbied President Trump to support his Mars plan, stating that sending humans to Mars could solidify Trump's legacy as a president who created multiple milestones. SpaceX had previously stated plans to launch five Starships to Mars by the end of 2026 to take advantage of a shorter, relatively easier time window when Earth and Mars are closer together. In a podcast interview that aired in January, Musk downplayed the possibility of landing on Mars this year. He said, "We can try, but the probability of success is low," and it "somewhat distracts from the core mission." To meet the March 2027 lunar landing schedule, SpaceX will face significant challenges. This will require the company to launch Starships frequently and demonstrate its ability to refuel spacecraft in orbit. Last year, NASA officials pressured SpaceX to prioritize the moon mission. In October, then-NASA head Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said SpaceX was behind schedule and hoped to bring in more competitors to provide spacecraft to send astronauts to the moon. Subsequently, SpaceX proposed a simplified version of the crewed lunar landing path to NASA. Bezos' Blue Origin is attempting to beat SpaceX to achieve a lunar landing with its own simplified lunar landing system. In January of this year, Blue Origin announced it would pause its suborbital space tourism business and focus on the moon mission. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated at last year's confirmation hearing that he welcomed competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin in the lunar lander field. NASA plans to carry out the Artemis II manned mission around the moon soon, setting the stage for a potential manned lunar landing by SpaceX or Blue Origin in 2028. This article is reprinted from Wall Street News, author He Hao; GMTEight Editor: Wenwen.