It appears that SpaceX, much like its competitor Blue Origin, is shifting its immediate focus from the ambitious goal of Mars missions to establishing a more robust presence on the Moon. This strategic pivot, announced by Elon Musk, suggests a re-evaluation of timelines and immediate feasibility, with an emphasis on lunar development.
Musk's vision extends beyond simply landing on the Moon; he's now talking about a self-sustaining, and even self-growing, lunar city within the next decade. This contrasts sharply with his earlier predictions of ma nned Mars missions taking over twenty years, which, according to the article, have proven to be overly optimistic. The rationale behind this shift is practical: travel to the Moon is significantly more frequent and shorter (every 10 days for a 2-day journey) compared to Mars (every 26 months for a 6-month journey). This allows for much faster iteration and progress on lunar infrastructure.
While Mars remains a long-term objective, slated for development in 5-7 years, the immediate priority is securing humanity's future, and the Moon offers a more attainable stepping stone. This accelerated lunar focus may also be influenced by NASA's pressure on both SpaceX and Blue Origin to successfully launch the Artemis III mission before the end of 2028, a critical window tied to political timelines. NASA's requirement for an uncrewed lunar landing by March 2027 adds further urgency. The article speculates that Blue Origin might be better positioned to meet these immediate deadlines, give n the successful launches of their New Glenn rocket and their work on a simplified lunar lander. SpaceX's Starship, the foundation of their lunar lander, has yet to achieve Earth orbit, making orbital refueling a significant hurdle. The rivalry is highlighted by Blue Origin's owner, Jeff Bezos, alluding to the fable of the tortoise and the hare, a sentiment echoed in Blue Origin's motto 'gradatim ferociter' (step by step, but ferociously). Meanwhile, China is also making strides with its own lunar ambitions, aiming for a crewed mission by 2030. The success of Artemis III is also dependent on the upcoming Artemis II mission, a crewed circumlunar flight scheduled for launch next month.
Fuente Original: https://www.microsiervos.com/archivo/espacio/spacex-aparca-marte-centrarse-luna.html
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