SpaceX launched two private lunar landers from Florida’s Space Coast early Tuesday morning. The Falcon 9 rocket carried spacecraft built by Firefly Aerospace and Tokyo-based company ispace.
The third U.S. robotic commercial launch successfully lifted off on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. @Firefly_Space’s Blue Ghost lander is expected to reach the lunar surface in March: https://t.co/47IjWBAGbg pic.twitter.com/hXdIOcQnfo
— NASA (@NASA) January 15, 2025
Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander will spend 25 days in Earth orbit, conducting systems checks and gathering data with its 10 science and technology instruments.
It will then head to the moon, reaching lunar orbit four days later. After 16 days in orbit, Blue Ghost will attempt to land in Mare Crisium on the moon’s nearside.
We’ve confirmed separation. The Blue Ghost lander and its payloads continue on their voyage to the Moon. For more updates, check @Firefly_Space. pic.twitter.com/aTzYKaY0DG
— NASA (@NASA) January 15, 2025
The solar-powered lander and its NASA payloads will operate on the surface for about two Earth weeks until the sun sets over Mare Crisium.
Firefly expects the entire mission to last around 60 Earth days. ispace’s Resilience lander is taking a more energy-efficient path to the moon.
Blue Ghost mission overview
New year, new lunar mission!
10 @NASA science payloads launched to the Moon aboard a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of @Firefly_Space’s Blue Ghost Mission 1.
On March 2, it will land on the lunar surface and help us understand the Moon’s environment for future missions. pic.twitter.com/RMabCppTr4
— NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) January 15, 2025
It will reach lunar orbit in four months, with a flyby of the moon in about a month. ispace will then prepare for a landing attempt in the Mare Frigoris region of the moon’s northern hemisphere. Resilience carries equipment from several partners, including a microrover developed by ispace’s Luxembourg-based subsidiary.
The 11-pound rover will collect lunar regolith as part of its mission. The lander is also carrying “Moonhouse,” a small model house created by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg. This is ispace’s second lunar lander mission.
The first reached lunar orbit in March 2023 but crashed after getting confused by a crater rim. To date, only one private spacecraft, Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus, has successfully landed on the moon in February 2024. The successful missions of Blue Ghost and Resilience represent significant steps forward for private lunar exploration and the commercial space industry.
Noah Nguyen is a multi-talented developer who brings a unique perspective to his craft. Initially a creative writing professor, he turned to Dev work for the ability to work remotely. He now lives in Seattle, spending time hiking and drinking craft beer with his fiancee.
