Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander completes a fully successful moon mission, marking a milestone for private lunar exploration as it falls silent at sunset.
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| Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander shuts down after a successful two-week lunar mission, solidifying private firms' role in space exploration. Image: NASA |
Cape Canaveral, USA — March 18, 2025:
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has fallen silent after completing a landmark lunar mission, solidifying the role of private companies in space exploration. The lander, which touched down on March 2, operated successfully for two weeks before the onset of lunar night, when the lack of sunlight cut off its solar power.
The mission, part of NASA’s commercial lunar delivery program, involved ten scientific and technological experiments, all of which functioned as intended. Among its final tasks, Blue Ghost captured images of a total solar eclipse as seen from the moon. Firefly CEO Jason Kim confirmed the mission’s completion on social media, saying, “Mission is completed, but the Ghost still lives on in our hearts and minds for the journey it’s taken us on!”
This success stands in stark contrast to recent failures in private lunar exploration. Texas-based Intuitive Machines’ lander ended up stranded in a crater near the moon’s south pole, limiting its effectiveness. Japan’s ispace is still on its way to a June landing attempt, following a previous failure. Blue Ghost, however, landed precisely as planned, making Firefly the first private company to achieve a fully successful lunar mission.
With this milestone, Firefly Aerospace is planning annual moon landings, aiming to become a key player in the expanding commercial space sector. The company’s achievement reinforces the feasibility of private lunar exploration and raises hopes for more sustainable and frequent moon missions in the coming years.