Private US Spacecraft Makes History with Upright Moon Landing
In a ground-breaking achievement for private space exploration, Firefly Aerospace successfully landed its spacecraft on the Moon, marking only the second private mission to do so. The momentous touchdown, which occurred on Sunday at 3:34 AM US Eastern Time (3:34 PM in Thailand), took place near Mons Latreille, a volcanic feature in Mare Crisium on the Moon’s northeastern side.
Celebrations erupted at mission control in Austin, Texas, as an engineer called out, “Y’all stuck the landing, we’re on the Moon!” CEO Jason Kim confirmed that the spacecraft, Blue Ghost Mission 1, had landed “stable and upright,” a key distinction from the first private landing earlier in February, which landed sideways.
Historic Landing: A Step Toward NASA’s Artemis Program
Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, shared in the excitement: “We’re on the Moon!” The spacecraft’s first image from the surface revealed the rocky, pockmarked terrain that it navigated autonomously at a reduced speed of just 2 mph.
The Blue Ghost mission is part of NASA’s partnership with private companies to reduce costs and support the Artemis program, aimed at returning astronauts to the Moon. The spacecraft, about the size of a hippopotamus, launched on January 15 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, capturing stunning footage during its 2.8 million-mile journey.
Innovative Technology and Groundbreaking Experiments
Blue Ghost carries an impressive payload of 10 scientific instruments, including a lunar soil analyzer, a radiation-tolerant computer, and an experiment to test the use of global satellite navigation systems on the Moon. Designed to operate for an entire lunar day (14 Earth days), the lander is set to capture high-definition imagery of a total lunar eclipse on March 14, when Earth will block the Sun from the Moon’s horizon.
It will also record a lunar sunset on March 16, offering a unique opportunity to study how lunar dust levitates above the surface under solar influence, a phenomenon first documented by Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan.
What’s Next for Private Moon Landings?
Blue Ghost’s success will be followed on March 6 by the IM-2 mission from Intuitive Machines, another Texas-based company. Their lander, Athena, is designed to take a more direct route toward the southernmost lunar landing site attempted, Mons Mouton. Athena will carry three rovers, a drill for searching for lunar ice, and an innovative hopping drone to explore the Moon’s rugged terrain.
A New Era for NASA and Private Lunar Missions
The growing role of private companies in lunar exploration highlights a new era for space travel. Since the first successful private lunar landing by Intuitive Machines in February 2024, the US has been working to make private lunar missions a regular occurrence through NASA’s $2.6 billion Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
NASA’s Artemis Program: Balancing Ambitions for the Moon and Mars
This new phase of private lunar exploration is occurring amidst ongoing discussions within NASA about the future of the Artemis program. There has been speculation that NASA may scale back or even cancel plans for a return to the Moon in favor of prioritizing Mars exploration—a key goal championed by President Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Private Lunar Missions: The Future is Now
With these successful landings, private companies are increasingly taking the lead in space exploration, reducing reliance on traditional national space agencies. The swift advancements in lunar exploration, along with innovative technologies like hopping drones and lunar soil analysis, signal a new era of possibility for humanity’s exploration of the Moon—and beyond.
