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Musk Wants to Go to the Moon. But How Will He Build His ‘Self-Growing City’?

Elon Musk has announced a goal to establish a self‑growing city on the Moon by 2030, shifting focus from Mars to lunar settlement. The chief obstacle is not launch capability but the prohibitive cost of transporting construction materials from Earth. In‑situ resource utilization (ISRU) – turning lunar regolith into high‑strength fibre and printable bricks – could dramatically lower mass and expense. The article argues that materials scientists, mining engineers, and traditional industrial firms must lead the effort, with policy and public‑private partnerships enabling a viable lunar economy.