CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private U.S. spacecraft on its way to the moon has begun to share breathtaking views of Earth just a week into its mission.
The spacecraft, known as Blue Ghost and developed by Firefly Aerospace, ignited its thrusters Thursday to set a trajectory towards the moon, aiming to arrive in just over a month. The Texas-based company released stunning images and videos of our planet, often referred to as the Blue Marble, on Friday.
In addition to its impressive imagery, Blue Ghost is carrying several experiments for NASA, which is actively working to send astronauts back to the moon within this decade.
Launched from Florida by SpaceX on January 15, Blue Ghost is one of two lunar landers in the current mission, with a planned landing date set for March 2. The second lander, sponsored by the Japanese company ispace, has a more extended route planned, targeting a landing later in May or early June.
This mission marks Firefly’s inaugural attempt at a lunar landing, while ispace is on its second try after its first lander crashed on the moon in 2023. The latest endeavor from ispace, named Resilience, is still in orbit around Earth, performing essential maneuvers as it prepares to advance toward the lunar surface.
Overall, these ambitious missions underscore the growing involvement of private companies in lunar exploration and the ongoing efforts of NASA to establish a sustained human presence on the moon.