CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — On Sunday, a private lunar mission successfully landed a spacecraft on the moon, marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration. Organized by Firefly Aerospace, the mission’s Blue Ghost lander was equipped with scientific instruments, including a drill and a vacuum, intended for experiments under NASA’s direction. This landing aligns with the burgeoning interest in conducting business ventures on the moon ahead of upcoming astronaut missions.
The Blue Ghost lander executed a descent from lunar orbit employing autopilot technology, its target being the ancient volcanic regions at the moon’s northeastern edge. Confirmation of the smooth landing was received by Firefly’s Mission Control located near Austin, Texas, symbolizing a remarkable feat as it happened 225,000 miles (360,000 kilometers) away from Earth.
Will Coogan, Firefly’s chief engineer for the mission, proudly announced the achievement, stating, “You all stuck the landing. We’re on the moon.” This remarkable success makes Firefly Aerospace the first private company to softly land a spacecraft on the moon without any mishaps, such as crashing or toppling over. Even entire nations find such accomplishments challenging, with successful lunar touchdowns previously claimed by only five countries: Russia, the United States, China, India, and Japan.
Shortly after the historic landing, Blue Ghost began transmitting images from the lunar interface. The initial picture was a selfie somewhat overshadowed by the bright glare of the sun. The following image captured Earth as a faint blue dot against the expansive darkness of space.
Notably, Blue Ghost is leading the way amidst a surge in private lunar expeditions, with other companies prepping for moon landings. Another lander is expected to join Blue Ghost on the lunar surface later this week. The lunar lander, aptly named after a rare species of firefly found in the United States, is built for stability. With a height of 6-foot-6 (2 meters) and a width of 11 feet (3.5 meters), the lander is notably squat and sturdy.
A product of mid-January’s launch from Florida, the Blue Ghost transported ten experiments for NASA, including scientific and technological payloads worth $44 million. NASA paid $101 million for its deliveries, underscoring its commitment to fostering a competitive lunar economy of private enterprises. This mission represents the third under NASA’s commercial lunar delivery initiative aimed at paving the way for future astronaut visits and encouraging new lunar business ventures.
According to Firefly’s Ray Allensworth, careful navigation allowed Blue Ghost to avoid hazardous obstacles, such as lunar boulders, finally achieving a safe landing within the targeted 328-foot (100-meter) zone in Mare Crisium. The lander’s experiments are poised for about two weeks of operational time until lunar daytime concludes and the lander shuts down. Among its onboard tools are a vacuum designed to collect moon dust for analysis and a drill intended to conduct temperature measurements a depth of up to 10 feet (3 meters) below the moon’s surface. Additionally, it carried a device aimed at mitigating the problematic lunar dust, known for its abrasive qualities that once marred the Apollo moonwalkers’ equipment.
While journeying to the moon, Blue Ghost captured striking images of Earth, and upon achieving lunar orbit, its detailed photographs of the moon’s cratered surface captivated audiences. It also successfully tracked signals from both the U.S. GPS and the European Galileo constellations, a positive development in navigation that anticipates future exploratory missions.
This successful lunar landing sets the scene for more visitors keen to capitalize on lunar business opportunities. An upcoming mission involves another lander, crafted by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, tasked with an impending moon landing on Thursday, aiming for a location 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the moon’s south pole. Despite previous setbacks, including a lander tipping over in a prior attempt, Intuitive Machines brings the U.S. presence back to the moon.
Another mission involves a Japanese company’s lander, expected to touch down in three months, having shared a launch with Blue Ghost. ispace’s earlier attempt in 2023 ended in a crash, yet it persists in landing a successful mission.
The moon has become a graveyard of wreckage resulting from numerous unsuccessful attempts over the years. NASA remains persistent, however, aspiring to dispatch two private lunar landers annually despite the challenges. According to NASA’s chief science officer Nicky Fox, such initiatives broaden the pathways for scientific endeavors both in orbit and on the moon’s surface.
Distinct from NASA’s earlier Apollo missions, celebrated for their well-funded success under seasoned astronauts’ guidance, today’s private missions operate with more streamlined budgets and employing automated lunar landers, asserting Jason Kim, Firefly’s CEO. “Everything went like clockwork,” Kim noted, expressing satisfaction with the team’s achievements. “We got some moon dust on our boots.”
