For years, Musk’s SpaceX has focused on developing reusable rockets to send humans to the Red Planet.
Meanwhile, NASA’s Artemis program—centered on the expendable Space
Launch System (SLS)—aims for a crewed lunar landing by 2026 and a long-term U.S. presence on the Moon.
The Artemis-SpaceX divide is clear: SpaceX prioritizes reusability and cost-efficiency, while Artemis relies on older, more expensive single-use technology.
Musk has repeatedly criticized SLS as inefficient and politically driven, calling the Moon program a “distraction” from Mars.