NATIONWIDE — SpaceX says it will soon become “leaner,” laying off 10 percent of the company’s more than 6,000 employees, a spokesperson confirmed Friday.

The space technology company announced the change after reportedly assessing how it wants to pursue more ambitious goals, such as human space travel.

The company did not release an exact number of employees out of its workforce who will face layoffs.  

SpaceX released the following statement Friday about the forthcoming move:

“To continue delivering for our customers and to succeed in developing interplanetary spacecraft and a global space-based Internet, SpaceX must become a leaner company. Either of these developments, even when attempted separately, have bankrupted other organizations.  This means we must part ways with some talented and hardworking members of our team. We are grateful for everything they have accomplished and their commitment to SpaceX’s mission. This action is taken only due to the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead and would not otherwise be necessary.”

Ultimately, the company estimates it will need billions to build a spaceship capable of sending astronauts to Mars and a satellite system for global internet service. 

CEO Elon Musk recently released a first look at the company's new Starship spacecraft, in which SpaceX hopes to conduct short hop tests to see how it handles launches and landings.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.