New york: Elon Musk's SpaceX has postponed its Mars mission originally set for this year to give precedence to a lunar voyage for NASA, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The decision marks a strategic shift in focus for the company, which had initially planned several missions to Mars.

According to Anadolu Agency, insiders briefed on the decision revealed that SpaceX informed investors of its plan to prioritize the moon trip, delaying the Mars journey. The company now aims for an uncrewed moon landing in March 2027, as stated by another source familiar with the matter.

This strategic pivot aligns with SpaceX's growing dedication to orbiting artificial intelligence data centers, following its acquisition of Musk's xAI. In a company memo detailing the merger, Musk expressed intentions to support the development of a sustained lunar base.

NASA and SpaceX have been collaborating under a contract signed several years ago, aimed at developing a Starship capable of meeting a NASA vessel in lunar orbit. This partnership involves collecting astronauts and transporting American crew members to the moon's surface.

Previously, Musk had downplayed the significance of lunar missions, emphasizing a direct route to Mars. SpaceX had planned to send five Starships to Mars by late 2026. Nonetheless, Musk has recently tempered expectations regarding a Mars arrival this year, acknowledging that while it's still a possibility, it remains unlikely.