Firefly Aerospace is set to launch its first lunar mission next week, carrying scientific instruments to the moon's surface. The mission, supported by NASA's CLPS program, will utilize a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for liftoff.
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| Following the recent success of Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace aims to land its Blue Ghost lander on the moon. This mission is crucial for the development of a commercial lunar economy. Image: Collected |
Washington, USA - January 8, 2025:
US company Firefly Aerospace is set to launch its first lunar mission next week, carrying scientific instruments to the moon's surface. The mission, supported by NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, will utilize a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for liftoff on January 15th at 1:11 a.m. EST.
This attempt follows the recent success of Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander, which achieved the first US lunar landing in over 50 years in February 2024. However, the previous CLPS mission by Astrobotic ended in failure earlier this year.
Firefly's lander, named Blue Ghost, is designed to deliver payloads for 10 scientific research projects to Mons Latreille, a volcanic region on the moon's northeast side. The mission will involve a 45-day journey to the moon, followed by two weeks of operations on the lunar surface.
The CLPS initiative aims to foster a commercial lunar economy by encouraging private companies to conduct lunar missions, contributing to NASA's long-term goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon as part of the Artemis program.
This mission holds significant importance for both Firefly Aerospace and the future of lunar exploration, potentially paving the way for increased private sector involvement in lunar activities.