Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander is set to touch down on the Moon no earlier than March 2nd as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, according to a recent announcement from NASA.
Image Credit: Gustavo Ackles/Shutterstock.com
Carrying ten NASA science and technology payloads, the mission will contribute to Artemis’ goals by advancing lunar exploration. The landing will be live-streamed by NASA and Firefly, marking another step toward establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon and preparing for future crewed missions.
Background
The CLPS initiative is a key part of NASA’s Artemis program, designed to foster a commercial lunar economy by enabling private companies to deliver payloads to the Moon. These payloads include scientific experiments and technology demonstrations that will provide crucial data about the lunar environment, supporting future astronaut missions.
Since launching CLPS in 2018, NASA has expanded its partnerships, awarding contracts to multiple US companies, including Firefly Aerospace. In February 2021, Firefly secured a $93.3 million contract (later adjusted to $101.5 million) to deliver ten NASA payloads to Mare Crisium using its Blue Ghost lunar lander. This mission is a major step toward routine lunar deliveries and increasing private-sector involvement in deep-space exploration.
Mission and Scientific Objectives
Blue Ghost launched on January 15th, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission’s ten NASA payloads will conduct a variety of scientific investigations, including:
- Lunar Surface Studies: Measuring surface radiation, thermal conditions, and lunar dust properties to assess potential hazards for future astronauts.
- Technology Demonstrations: Testing new landing techniques and navigation technologies to improve future robotic and crewed missions.
- Resource Utilization: Evaluating the Moon’s natural resources, such as regolith composition, to explore their potential for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU).
The data collected will support the Artemis program’s long-term goal of establishing a sustainable lunar presence. The CLPS initiative operates under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract structure, allowing companies to bid on future lunar transport missions. With a total potential contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028, NASA aims to cultivate a competitive commercial lunar transport industry.
Live Coverage and Future Lunar Missions
NASA and Firefly will broadcast live coverage of the Blue Ghost landing starting at 2:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on March 2nd, 2025. The event will be available on NASA+, Firefly’s YouTube channel, and various social media platforms. After landing, a joint news conference will provide updates on mission outcomes and their implications for future lunar exploration.
The CLPS program will continue to play a vital role in NASA’s lunar strategy. Beyond Firefly’s first mission, several other commercial lunar deliveries are on the horizon:
- 2025: Firefly’s second mission, Blue Ghost Mission 2, will deliver additional payloads to the Moon’s far side and deploy a communications satellite in lunar orbit.
- 2026-2027: Companies including Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic, and Draper will send NASA science instruments to various lunar locations, including the South Pole.
These missions will help lay the foundation for Artemis astronauts, supporting NASA’s goal of returning humans to the Moon in 2025 and eventually enabling crewed missions to Mars.
As Artemis progresses, these robotic missions will pave the way for human landings, moving closer to the ultimate goal of a permanent lunar presence and deep-space exploration.
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