Fact Check: Does SpaceX plan to build a system that allows anyone to travel to Moon?

WASHINGTON, DC: In early February, Elon Musk revealed that SpaceX is now focused on building a "self-growing city" of humans on the moon as he backed away from his plans to launch a civilization on Mars.

Following this, a rumor circulated across social media claiming that SpaceX plans to build a system that allows anyone to travel to Moon. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.

Claim: SpaceX plans to build a system that allows anyone to travel to Moon

Several X users posted that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is planning to build a system that allows anyone to travel to the Moon. An X post read, "#SpaceX is shifting its priorities toward building a #moon base. 'SpaceX will build a system that allows anyone to travel to the moon', #ElonMusk said in a social media post on Monday. The announcement marks a significant shift in Musk's plans." 

Similarly, another X account posted, "JUST IN: Elon Musk says SpaceX is building a system 'that allows anyone to travel to the Moon'."

"SpaceX will shift focus to prioritise building the moon base, and that could happen in about less than a decade from now," wrote another X user.

SpaceX's upcoming plans center heavily on accelerating Starship development, a major strategic pivot toward the Moon as the priority for building a sustainable human presence, and growth in Falcon 9 and Starlink operations.

Fact Check: True, Elon Musk confirms the rumor

The claims made in the online posts are true, as Elon Musk has confirmed the rumor. He wrote on X, "SpaceX will build a system that allows anyone to travel to Moon. This will so insanely cool."

Moreover, in a comment on the same post, the tech billionaire wrote, "And Mars too", signalling that, along with the Moon, people will also be able to travel to Mars. Musk's plan aligns with the company's development of the Starship spacecraft, which is designed for crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. 

However, it must be noted that these plans are aspirational and long-term, with no immediate public access available. Current efforts focus on uncrewed tests, NASA partnerships, and building infrastructure for a 'self-growing city' on the lunar surface.

Notably, SpaceX has been developing the Starship system primarily for deep-space missions. Elon Musk has explicitly stated that SpaceX aims to make Moon travel accessible to the general public over time, not just astronauts or governments.