At approximately 2:34 a.m. CT (3:34 a.m. ET) on March 2, 2025, Blue Ghost safely touched down on the Moon’s near side, near the volcanic formation Mons Latreille in the Mare Crisium region. The successful landing was the culmination of years of development, testing, and collaboration with NASA under its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
Following touchdown, Firefly Aerospace confirmed that the lander was upright and stable, an essential requirement for its planned scientific operations. Each of Blue Ghost’s four landing legs was equipped with sensors designed to confirm contact with the lunar surface. However, initial telemetry suggested that only three of the sensors registered contact.
Despite this minor anomaly, Firefly’s team remains confident that the lander is securely positioned for its mission. Ray Allensworth, Firefly’s Blue Ghost Program Director, suggested that the fourth sensor may have simply been ignored by the onboard software, possibly due to an early trigger.
“We need to analyze the data, but the important thing is that the lander is upright and operational,” Allensworth explained.
Blue Ghost’s journey to the lunar surface was not without challenges. During its descent, the lander executed two hazard avoidance maneuvers to steer clear of boulders and rough terrain. The successful execution of these maneuvers demonstrated the effectiveness of the spacecraft’s autonomous landing software.
Brigette Oaks, Firefly’s Vice President of Engineering, highlighted the accuracy of the navigation system, which helped the lander find a relatively flat and safe area to touch down. The success of this landing paves the way for future lunar missions, proving that Firefly’s autonomous systems can handle the complexities of landing on the Moon.
Approximately 40 minutes after landing, the first images captured by Blue Ghost’s onboard cameras were transmitted back to Earth. The images showcased the lunar terrain beneath the spacecraft, revealing craters, dust, and the lander’s own shadow stretching across the Moon’s surface.
“The sight of the lander’s shadow on the lunar soil with Earth in the distance is breathtaking,” said Firefly CEO Jason Kim. “It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come in space exploration and how much further we can go.”
Blue Ghost is equipped with 10 science payloads, most of which were provided by NASA, to conduct research and technology demonstrations on the lunar surface. The lander will operate for 14 Earth days, the equivalent of one full lunar day, before the harsh lunar night sets in.
Lunar Magnetosphere Study: A telescope designed to observe Earth’s magnetic field and its interactions with space weather.
Lunar Surface Sampling System: A vacuum-based instrument designed to collect lunar soil for analysis.
Navigation Experiment: A system testing the feasibility of using GPS for positioning and navigation on the Moon.
High-Resolution Imaging: Cameras capable of capturing 4K video and still images, including an attempt to document the lunar horizon glow, a phenomenon last witnessed by Apollo astronauts.
Additionally, Blue Ghost will observe a lunar eclipse, during which Earth will cast a shadow over the Moon, blocking sunlight for several hours. The mission aims to provide valuable data on how lunar temperatures and surface conditions change during such events.
One of the most ambitious aspects of Blue Ghost’s mission is its attempt to survive the extreme cold of the lunar night. As temperatures drop to -280°F (-173°C), most landers cease functioning due to battery and electronics failure. However, Firefly Aerospace has been tasked with testing technologies that could extend a lander’s lifespan beyond the lunar day.
NASA has increased its funding for Firefly’s mission from $93 million to $101 million, partly to support this endeavor. If Blue Ghost successfully withstands the lunar night, it will mark a major breakthrough in lunar exploration technology.
The success of Blue Ghost’s landing represents an important step toward NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon in the coming years. By supporting commercial companies like Firefly Aerospace, NASA hopes to establish a sustainable lunar presence and advance technologies necessary for future crewed missions.
Dr. Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration at NASA, praised Firefly’s accomplishment:
“This is proof that NASA’s approach of working with private companies is yielding results. Blue Ghost’s successful landing is a major milestone in our long-term strategy for lunar exploration.”
Following this mission, Firefly is preparing for its second lunar mission, which will send another Blue Ghost lander to the far side of the Moon. This upcoming mission will require additional communication infrastructure, as direct signals to Earth will not be possible. To solve this challenge, Firefly plans to deploy an orbiter named Elytra, which will serve as a relay station for transmitting data between the lander and mission control.
“There’s an enormous amount of scientific potential on the Moon’s far side,” Kim said. “We’re excited to push the boundaries of what’s possible in lunar exploration.”
With Blue Ghost’s successful landing and future missions on the horizon, Firefly Aerospace is quickly establishing itself as a leader in commercial lunar exploration. Its achievements not only validate private-sector contributions to space travel but also pave the way for a new era of scientific discovery on the Moon.
