First Images Of Blue Ghost Lander On Moon's Surface

This past weekend marked a significant milestone with the successful landing of the Blue Ghost lander on the moon. Firefly Aerospace’s mission arrived at the Mare Crisium region on Sunday, March 2. Fresh images from the lander have already been released, showcasing its new lunar environment.

Among the captivating visuals is a striking photograph capturing the lander’s shadow cast on the moon’s surface. Another image highlights the lander with Earth appearing in the night sky:

This image illustrates the Moon's surface, with Earth visible on the horizon and the Blue Ghost’s solar panel and X-band antenna in the foreground. — This image illustrates the Moon’s surface, with Earth visible on the horizon and the Blue Ghost’s solar panel and X-band antenna in the foreground. Firefly Aerospace

The image also features two of the lander’s key instruments, the X-band antenna for transmitting data back to Earth and the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI). This telescope will utilize X-rays to investigate the interaction between solar winds and Earth’s magnetic field and is one of several NASA tools aboard the lander.

NASA’s acting Administrator, Janet Petro, remarked on the landing, stating, “This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all. We have already learned many lessons – and the technological and scientific demonstrations onboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 will enhance our ability to not only discover more science but also ensure the safety of our spacecraft instruments for future human exploration – both in the immediate and distant future.”

Another captivating image shows a bird’s-eye view of the moon’s surface where the lander’s thrusters are prominently displayed:

This image captures the Moon's surface from above, focusing on the lander’s RCS thrusters amid sunlight glare. — This image captures the Moon’s surface from above, focusing on the lander’s RCS thrusters amid sunlight glare. Firefly Aerospace

The deployment of the lander’s instruments has commenced, and Firefly has announced that the X-band antenna is fully operational. This antenna provides superior image quality and transmits scientific data and videos, significantly better than the previous S-band antennas that delivered lower-quality images.

“The science and technology we send to the Moon now helps pave the way for future NASA exploration and supports a long-term human presence to inspire generations worldwide,” stated Nicky Fox, NASA’s associate administrator for science. “Partnering with American companies for these payloads bolsters a thriving lunar economy.”