Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost mission has captured its first view of the moon.
A new image from Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission shows the spacecraft’s first glimpse of the moon. Launched nearly two weeks ago, the spacecraft is headed to the moon where it aims to land, completing just the second commercial lunar landing to date. The lander is filled with experiments and technology tests for NASA, as part of the agency’s Artemis program to get humans back to the moon in the next few years.
Recommended Videos “NASA’s science and technology instruments aboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 are a step closer to the Moon,” NASA wrote in an update. “After almost two weeks in Earth orbit, Firefly announced Thursday that Blue Ghost successfully completed its second engine burn, placing the lander in the correct position to leave Earth’s orbit and continue its journey to the Moon. At the same time, the spacecraft got its first glimpse of the Moon from Earth’s orbit.
As the spacecraft travels between Earth and the moon, engineers on the ground are checking that all its payloads are working correctly. The payloads are 10 science and technology experiments, for NASA and various research institutions and universities, including tools like a drill for sample collection and instruments for measuring X-rays and magnetic fields.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Watch Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander witness an eclipse from space (video)Brett is curious about emerging aerospace technologies, alternative launch concepts, military space developments and uncrewed aircraft systems. Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American, The War Zone, Popular Science, the History Channel, Science Discovery and more.
Read more »
NASA's Blue Ghost Mission to Launch with Firefly's Lunar LanderFirefly Aerospace's first lunar lander, carrying 10 NASA science instruments, is set to launch on January 15th as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The mission, named Blue Ghost, will aim to land near Mons Latreille in the Mare Crisium basin, collecting samples of lunar regolith and drilling beneath the surface. This launch signifies NASA's increasing reliance on private companies like Firefly to advance its lunar exploration goals.
Read more »
NASA Instrument on Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lander to Study Lunar InteriorAs part of its Artemis campaign, NASA is developing a series of increasingly complex lunar deliveries and missions to ultimately build a sustained human
Read more »
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission: A Historic Step Towards Private Lunar ExplorationFirefly Aerospace is set to make history with its Blue Ghost mission, aiming for a soft landing on the moon with NASA science experiments onboard. This mission marks a significant step in private lunar exploration.
Read more »
NASA Prepares for Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Lunar MissionNASA is launching ten science payloads and technology demonstrations onboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, set to blast off on January 15, 2024, towards the Moon. This mission will advance our understanding of the Moon and pave the way for future crewed missions.
Read more »
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Lander Embarks on Historic Mission to the MoonThe Blue Ghost lander, built by Firefly Aerospace, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the second U.S. soft landing on the moon since the Apollo program. The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which aims to leverage private companies for lunar exploration. Blue Ghost carries 10 NASA instruments, marking a significant step in lunar science and technological advancement.
Read more »