Part 5/12:
In a recent interview, Musk emphasized that the Starship program is vastly more capable than the Apollo program, capable of supporting lunar settlements with a population of up to a million people. This underscores a shift in operational priorities: instead of hastily aiming for Mars, Musk now views the Moon as the next major strategic step.
Analysts and early followers initially believed that the Moon was a distraction from the long-term goal of Mars colonization. But Musk appears to have reassessed this stance, recognizing that the Moon offers rapid iteration cycles, closer proximity, and the potential for establishing self-sustaining settlements in a shorter period.