Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Credit : Firefly Aerospace
Blue Ghost successfully entered lunar orbit after a precise engine burn, bringing Firefly Aerospace one step closer to making history with a private Moon landing in Mare Crisium.
Credit : Firefly Aerospace
Set to touch down on March 2, Blue Ghost aims to become one of the few private spacecraft to achieve a soft landing, delivering critical science experiments for NASA’s Artemis program.
Credit : Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace’s success highlights the growing role of private companies in deep space exploration, proving that commercial firms can play a key part in future Moon missions.
Credit : NASA
Carrying 10 NASA-backed experiments, Blue Ghost will study the Moon’s surface, radiation levels, and potential resources, providing vital data for long-term human missions to the Moon.
Credit : Firefly Aerospace
Using multiple engine burns over 16 days, Blue Ghost is refining its orbit before attempting a soft landing, maximizing fuel efficiency for a controlled descent to Mare Crisium’s surface.
Blue Ghost isn’t alone—Tokyo-based ispace’s Resilience lander launched on the same Falcon 9 rocket and will take a longer route to the Moon, marking a new era of private lunar exploration.
Credit : ispace
If Blue Ghost lands successfully, Firefly Aerospace could secure more NASA contracts, helping shape future lunar missions and solidifying the role of commercial spaceflight in deep-space exploration.
Credit : Firefly Aerospace
By mapping the lunar surface and studying radiation, Blue Ghost’s data will help NASA prepare for permanent Moon bases, supporting long-term human habitation under the Artemis program.
With private firms like Firefly and Intuitive Machines achieving major milestones, commercial space exploration is accelerating, making lunar travel more frequent, cost-effective, and sustainable.
Credit : Firefly Aerospace