US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The company was carrying science and technology equipment to the lunar surface as part of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/nasa" rel="dofollow">NASA</a>&rsquo;s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. As the touchdown was complete the craft captured first images from Mare Crisium, a unique landing site.
"Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we&rsquo;re just getting started!," a tweet by the US firm revealed
According to the company's website, Blue Ghost is tasked to supply data, power and thermal resources for payload missions for around 2 months.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Would you look at that view! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueGhost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueGhost</a> captured its first image on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/moon" rel="dofollow">Moon </a>that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we&rsquo;re just getting started! Find out what's next for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BGM1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BGM1</a> <a href="https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx">https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx</a> <a href="https://t.co/NsdljgQOpu">pic.twitter.com/NsdljgQOpu</a>
&mdash; Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Firefly_Space/status/1896127381670367703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/25-million-light-years-away-nasas-hubble-space-telescope-discovers-36-dwarf-galaxies-inside-andromeda-8768230">'2.5 million light-years away': NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovers 36 dwarf galaxies orbiting Andromeda</a>
<h2>Why is the landing site unique?</h2>
The landing site, Mare Crisium, was created after being impacted by an asteroid. 3 billion years ago, it was created by volcanic eruptions that flooded the basin with basaltic lava. This unique site will help 'gather critical data about the moon&rsquo;s regolith, geophysical characteristics, and the interaction of solar wind and Earth&rsquo;s magnetic field.'
<h2>1st private spacecraft to land on moon</h2>
The first private spacecraft to make a successful landing on the moon was Intuitive Machines' Odysseus. The landing took place on February 22, but the craft landed on the slop of a crater which later led to its collapse. Some landing gear was damaged and ultimately toppled, making it a short-lived mission.
They are currently working on another mission that is to land Athena, another spacecraft on the southern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lunar" rel="dofollow">lunar </a>surface. The mission announcement could come in less than a week's time.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/science-technology/game-changer-nasa-to-launch-spherex-telescope-on-march-4-8771144">'Game changer': NASA to launch SPHEREx Telescope on March 4</a>
<h2>About the team</h2>
Over 700 employees of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/us" rel="dofollow">US</a>-based firm FireFly worked relentlessly to make this feat a success. The company highlighted, 'These Ghost Riders are forging a highway to the Moon by enabling regular lunar access, advancing lunar research, and laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting lunar presence.'&nbsp;

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. Science & Tech, Trending

US-based firm Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost scripts history becomes the second private moon lander to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The company was carrying science and technology equipment to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. As the touchdown was complete the craft captured first images from Mare Crisium, a unique landing site. "Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we’re just getting started!," a tweet by the US firm revealed According to the company's website, Blue Ghost is tasked to supply data, power and thermal resources for payload missions for around 2 months. Would you look at that view! #BlueGhost captured its first image on the Moon that embodies everything this bold, unstoppable Firefly team has worked so hard for over the last 3+ years. And we’re just getting started! Find out what's next for #BGM1 https://t.co/oEJhJu7KHx pic.twitter.com/NsdljgQOpu — Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 2, 2025 Also Read: '2.5 million light-years away': NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovers 36 dwarf galaxies orbiting Andromeda Why is the landing site unique? The landing site, Mare Crisium, was created after being impacted by an asteroid. 3 billion years ago, it was created by volcanic eruptions that flooded the basin with basaltic lava. This unique site will help 'gather critical data about the moon’s regolith, geophysical characteristics, and the interaction of solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field.' 1st private spacecraft to land on moon The first private spacecraft to make a successful landing on the moon was Intuitive Machines' Odysseus. The landing took place on February 22, but the craft landed on the slop of a crater which later led to its collapse. Some landing gear was damaged and ultimately toppled, making it a short-lived mission. They are currently working on another mission that is to land Athena, another spacecraft on the southern lunar surface. The mission announcement could come in less than a week's time. Also Read: 'Game changer': NASA to launch SPHEREx Telescope on March 4 About the team Over 700 employees of the US-based firm FireFly worked relentlessly to make this feat a success. The company highlighted, 'These Ghost Riders are forging a highway to the Moon by enabling regular lunar access, advancing lunar research, and laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting lunar presence.'

Blue Ghost Landing: US firm's spacecraft second private lander on moon. Check out which was first

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Tuesday announced that it has&nbsp;picked US-based rocket builder Firefly Aerospace for an important $112 million contract. The NASA contract is for the delivery of multiple lunar payloads to the far side of the moon in 2026. It is part of NASA's efforts to put humans on the moon.

As per the Firefly Aerospace website, this is the second task the firm has won under NASA's&nbsp;Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.

Watch |&nbsp;Artemis I Explained: NASA's first mission to land humans on the moon after 50 years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/artemis-i-explained-nasas-first-mission-to-land-humans-on-the-moon-after-50-years-510343/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

To fulfill its contractual obligations, Firefly, as per the company website, will use its "Blue Ghost spacecraft in a two-stage configuration to first place a satellite into lunar orbit and then deliver two research payloads on the far side of the Moon."

"This mission will debut Firefly’s unique two-stage Blue Ghost spacecraft, offering NASA and other customers multiple deployment options as we collectively build the infrastructure for ongoing lunar operations and planetary exploration," said the rocket maker in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/understanding-the-dark-ages-of-universe-from-far-side-of-the-moon-571754">Unravelling the 'Dark Ages' of our universe from far side of the moon</a>

As per Reuters, NASA had previously handed a similar contract worth $73 million to spacecraft software firm Draper last year. The award was for the delivery of science and technology payloads to the far side of the moon in 2025.

The US space agency is attempting to take humanity to the moon through its Artemis program's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which is undertaking a crucial step before humanity lands on the moon.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mission-to-moon-how-us-and-japan-plan-to-once-again-send-humans-to-the-lunar-surface-481528">Mission to Moon: How US and Japan plan to once again send humans to the lunar surface</a>

CLPS is an effort to deploy privately built lunar landers to study the moon's surface before humans set a foot on the celestial object.&nbsp;

Humanity may make it to the moon in the next few years. Multiple countries, including the United States and China, have undertaken missions to achieve this feat.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Tuesday announced that it has picked US-based rocket builder Firefly Aerospace for an important $112 million contract.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Tuesday announced that it has picked US-based rocket builder Firefly Aerospace for an important $112 million contract. The NASA contract is for the delivery of multiple lunar payloads to the far side of the moon in 2026. It is part of NASA's efforts to put humans on the moon. As per the Firefly Aerospace website, this is the second task the firm has won under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Watch | Artemis I Explained: NASA's first mission to land humans on the moon after 50 years To fulfill its contractual obligations, Firefly, as per the company website, will use its "Blue Ghost spacecraft in a two-stage configuration to first place a satellite into lunar orbit and then deliver two research payloads on the far side of the Moon." "This mission will debut Firefly’s unique two-stage Blue Ghost spacecraft, offering NASA and other customers multiple deployment options as we collectively build the infrastructure for ongoing lunar operations and planetary exploration," said the rocket maker in a statement. Also read | Unravelling the 'Dark Ages' of our universe from far side of the moon As per Reuters, NASA had previously handed a similar contract worth $73 million to spacecraft software firm Draper last year. The award was for the delivery of science and technology payloads to the far side of the moon in 2025. The US space agency is attempting to take humanity to the moon through its Artemis program's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which is undertaking a crucial step before humanity lands on the moon. Also read | Mission to Moon: How US and Japan plan to once again send humans to the lunar surface CLPS is an effort to deploy privately built lunar landers to study the moon's surface before humans set a foot on the celestial object. Humanity may make it to the moon in the next few years. Multiple countries, including the United States and China, have undertaken missions to achieve this feat. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA awards Firefly Aerospace $112mn contract to deliver crucial payloads to far side of moon

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Blue Ghost Landing: US firm's spacecraft second private lander on moon. Check out which was first

NASA awards Firefly Aerospace $112mn contract to deliver crucial payloads to far side of moon