In a landmark achievement for commercial space exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s lunar lander, Blue Ghost, successfully touched down on the moon on Sunday, marking the second-ever uncrewed commercial moon landing. The spacecraft landed near an ancient volcanic vent in Mare Crisium, a large basin on the northeast side of the moon’s Earth-facing surface.

“We’re on the moon,” Mission Control announced, confirming that the lander was “stable” after its historic touchdown. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which partners with private companies to reduce costs and support the Artemis program, aimed at returning astronauts to the moon.

Acting NASA Director Janet Petro hailed the achievement, stating, “We’re going to be putting America first, we’re making America proud, we’re doing this for the US citizens.”

Mission Details

Blue Ghost was launched in mid-January from Florida, carrying 10 NASA experiments to the lunar surface. NASA paid 101million for the delivery and an additional 101 million for the delivery and an additional 44 million for the scientific instruments onboard. The four-legged lander, roughly the size of a compact car, is equipped with advanced tools, including a vacuum to collect moon dirt for analysis and a drill capable of measuring temperatures up to 10 feet (3 meters) below the lunar surface.

The experiments are expected to operate for about two weeks before the lunar daytime ends and the lander powers down. During its journey, Blue Ghost captured stunning footage of Earth and the moon. It is also set to record high-definition imagery of a total lunar eclipse on March 14, when Earth blocks the sun from the moon’s horizon, and a lunar sunset on March 16 to study how dust levitates above the surface under solar influence.

A Growing Trend in Commercial Moon Landings

Firefly Aerospace’s success marks the second private company to achieve a soft moon landing, following Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander in 2023. However, Odysseus’ landing was less smooth, as it broke a leg and tipped over upon touchdown. Intuitive Machines is preparing to launch another lunar lander later this year, scheduled to touch down on Thursday.

On a national level, only five countries have successfully landed on the moon: the former Soviet Union, the United States, China, India, and Japan. Firefly Aerospace’s achievement underscores the growing role of private companies in space exploration and their potential to support government-led missions.

Significance for NASA and Artemis

The successful landing of Blue Ghost is a significant milestone for NASA’s efforts to leverage commercial partnerships for lunar exploration. By collaborating with private companies like Firefly Aerospace, NASA aims to reduce costs and accelerate the timeline for returning humans to the moon under the Artemis program.

As the world watches the progress of commercial space ventures, Firefly Aerospace’s achievement highlights the potential for private industry to play a pivotal role in the next era of lunar exploration and beyond.