A private lunar lander, Blue Ghost, successfully landed on the moon carrying equipment for NASA, marking a significant milestone for commercial space exploration.
A private lunar lander carrying equipment for NASA successfully touched down on the moon on Sunday, with the company’s Mission Control confirming the landing from Texas.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, which includes a drill, vacuum, and other essential tools, descended from lunar orbit on autopilot. It targeted the slopes of an ancient volcanic dome located in an impact basin on the moon’s northeastern edge.
The successful landing was confirmed by the company’s Mission Control, situated outside Austin, Texas. Will Coogan, chief engineer for the lander, expressed excitement, stating, “You all stuck the landing. We’re on the moon.”
This achievement makes Firefly Aerospace the first private company to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon without crashing or tipping over. Historically, only five countries—Russia, the United States, China, India, and Japan—have accomplished successful lunar landings, with some government missions having failed in the past.
Blue Ghost, named after a rare species of firefly found in the United States, stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and spans 11 feet wide, providing enhanced stability during its descent and landing.
Approximately half an hour after landing, Blue Ghost began transmitting images from the lunar surface. The first image captured was a selfie, albeit somewhat obscured by the sun’s glare.
Looking ahead, two other companies are preparing to launch their lunar landers, with the next mission expected to join Blue Ghost on the moon later this week.
This successful landing represents a significant step forward in commercial space exploration and underscores the growing interest and investment in lunar missions.
According to The Associated Press, the developments in private lunar exploration are paving the way for future astronaut missions and potential business opportunities on the moon.