Firefly Areospace’s Blue Ghost Becomes Second Commerical Lunar Mission

In a milestone achievement, the Blue Ghost spacecraft, launched by US company Firefly Aerospace on January 15, has successfully become the second commercial vehicle to reach the Moon.

This mission, a collaborative effort between NASA and private enterprises, aims to explore the Sea of Crises, a prominent lunar crater.

Intuitive Machines, another private firm, aims to land its Athena spacecraft near the Moon’s south pole in the coming days.

 

Intuitive Machines previously became the first private company to achieve a lunar landing with its Odysseus spacecraft on February 22 last year.

However, the mission was cut short when Odysseus landed on the slope of a crater, damaging its landing gear and toppling over.

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In contrast, the Blue Ghost landed smoothly after orbiting the Moon for two weeks. Celebrations erupted at Firefly’s Texas headquarters upon confirmation of the successful landing.

Dr. Simeon Barber, a planetary science researcher at the Open University, hailed Blue Ghost as the first successful private lunar venture, noting that the vehicle remained intact and responsive.

He praised the achievement as a revival of lunar landing technology, which had been largely dormant since the Apollo era.

Dr. Barber emphasized the Moon’s significance for private firms as a launch pad for further space exploration.

He explained that lunar missions provide valuable experience in operating robotic instruments in extreme environments, characterised by temperature fluctuations, dust, and radiation.

Dr. Barber also highlighted the potential for human return to the Moon, citing the long hiatus due to funding constraints.

The last human Moon landing occurred on December 19, 1972, during the Apollo 17 mission. Dr. Barber explained that the Apollo missions, though successful, were costly and brief, typically lasting only three days.

He argued that involving private companies could drive down costs through commercial competition, potentially leading to more affordable landers and innovations such as extracting water from the Moon.

The first private attempt to reach the Moon was made by US firm Astrobotic Technology in January 2024.

Unfortunately, their lander experienced a suspected fuel leak and crashed back to Earth, disintegrating upon impact in the southern Pacific Ocean.

 

 

 

 

The Hindu