A US-based company has accomplished the rare feat of landing a spacecraft on the moon upright, achieving this as the second private mission to ever do so. The Blue Ghost Mission 1 by Firefly Aerospace made its historic touchdown near Mons Latreille, a volcanic region in the eastern part of Mare Crisium on the moon’s near side.
Mission control in Austin, Texas, celebrated as CEO Jason Kim announced that the spacecraft landed in a “stable and upright” position, contrasting the February 2024 mission by Intuitive Machines, which tipped over upon landing. Despite being the first US moon landing since the crewed Apollo 17 mission in 1972, the achievement was marred by the craft’s unfortunate orientation.
Ray Allensworth, the mission’s programme manager, pointed out the precision of the landing, noting it successfully targeted a specific site within 100 meters. Allensworth also mentioned two hazard avoidance maneuvers, confirming the effectiveness of the mission’s software.
The lander, about the size of a hippopotamus, navigated challenging lunar terrain autonomously during its descent, slowing from high speeds to just 2 mph. Launched on January 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Blue Ghost captured remarkable images of Earth and the moon during its journey.
Equipped with 10 instruments, the mission aims to analyze lunar soil, test radiation tolerance, and assess the potential of using Earth’s satellite navigation system on the moon. It is set to capture HD images of a total eclipse and a lunar sunset in March, providing insights into the peculiar lunar horizon glow.
Firefly Aerospace isn’t resting on its laurels; it plans to launch the IM-2 mission with its lander, Athena, on March 6th. In contrast, Intuitive Machines’ first mission in February faced challenges when its lander touched down too fast and tipped over, leading to shortened operations.
Landing on the moon poses significant challenges due to its lack of atmosphere, necessitating the precise control of thruster burns to navigate the dangerous terrain safely.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/02/private-firefly-aerospace-spacecraft-blue-ghost-makes-successful-upright-moon-landing
