Introduction to Blue Ghost’s Lunar Mission

Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander has been on the Moon for over a week, conducting a thorough investigation of the lunar surface in search of water and other vital resources. Recently, a new video has been released, showcasing Blue Ghost’s surface operations as it utilizes its space toolbox to collect material and data.

Deployment of Space Toolbox

Firefly Aerospace shared a 30-second clip of Blue Ghost drilling into the lunar surface. The video features NASA’s Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER) payload in action, extracting samples from the Moon as bits of its interior break off and land on the surface. The LISTER payload is a pneumatic, gas-powered drill developed by Texas Tech University and Honeybee Robotics, designed to measure the temperature and flow of heat from the Moon’s interior.

LISTER Payload in Action

The LISTER instrument began probing the lunar surface shortly after landing, with the video capturing its first operation on the Moon on March 3. Firefly’s Blue Ghost touched down on the lunar surface on Sunday, March 2, at 3:34 a.m. ET, in Mare Crisium, a large impact site filled with basaltic lava. The spacecraft captured a stunning video of its descent toward the heavily cratered lunar surface.

Mission Objectives

The company’s first mission to the Moon, "Ghost Riders in the Sky," is equipped with 10 NASA instruments designed to probe the lunar surface and gather data to support future human missions to the Moon as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Blue Ghost is also conducting its own surface operations, including subsurface drilling, sample collection, X-ray imaging, and dust mitigation experiments.

Current Mission Status

Blue Ghost is set to spend a full lunar day on the surface of the Moon, equivalent to 14 days on Earth. As the lander approaches lunar noon, temperatures are expected to rise to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius). To prepare for the extreme heat, Blue Ghost has started power cycling to maintain a cool temperature. Currently, two of its payloads are operational during power cycling, with full power operations to resume once surface temperatures cool down.

Milestones Achieved

With its successful touchdown on the Moon, Firefly Aerospace became the second private company to land on the lunar surface and the first to do so with its lander in an upright position. Intuitive Machines was the first company to land on the Moon in February 2024, but its Odysseus lander tipped over on its side after a less-than-ideal touchdown.

Future of Lunar Exploration

The Moon is becoming an increasingly crowded destination as more missions head to the lunar surface, marking the beginning of a new era of commercial drop-offs to space. As private companies like Firefly Aerospace continue to push the boundaries of space exploration, we can expect to see significant advancements in our understanding of the Moon and its potential resources.