CEDAR PARK, Texas, Nov. 25, 2024 - Firefly Aerospace has successfully completed environmental testing on its Blue Ghost lunar lander, preparing for its inaugural mission to the Moon as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The lander is set to be shipped to Cape Canaveral, Florida, in mid-December for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a launch window opening no earlier than mid-January 2025.
Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, stated, "Blue Ghost aced environmental testing and proved the lander is performing 100% as expected, which is a testament to the incredible Firefly team." The testing, conducted at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in mid-October, replicated extreme temperatures the lander will encounter during transit and on the lunar surface.
The tests included assessments for vibration, acoustic, electromagnetic interference, and compatibility, ensuring the lander can withstand the conditions of launch, transit, and landing. Jana Spruce, Vice President of Spacecraft at Firefly, noted that the team used additional time to conduct mission simulations and prepare for the upcoming launch.
Following launch, Blue Ghost will embark on a 45-day journey to the Moon, where it will land in Mare Crisium and operate 10 payloads for a full lunar day (14 Earth days). These payloads will conduct various science and technology demonstrations, including lunar subsurface drilling and sample collection, aimed at advancing research for future human lunar missions. Additionally, X-ray imaging of Earth's magnetic field will provide insights into space weather impacts on the planet.
After completing payload operations, Blue Ghost will capture data on lunar regolith's reaction to solar influences during lunar dusk and operate for several hours into the lunar night. This mission, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, is the first of three task orders from Firefly supporting NASA's CLPS initiative, part of the Artemis campaign to foster a sustainable lunar economy.