Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully landed on the Moon and has already begun its mission by capturing a breathtaking image of the lunar sunrise. The historic touchdown, which occurred on March 2, 2025, marks a major milestone for private space exploration and NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.

A Successful Lunar Landing

The Blue Ghost lander touched down near Mons Latreille, a solitary peak within the Mare Crisium (also known as the “Sea of Crises”), located in the northeastern region of the Moon’s near side. The spacecraft had been traveling for 46 days after launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 15.

With the landing confirmed, Firefly Aerospace has officially joined the growing list of private companies making significant contributions to lunar exploration.

Following the success of the Intuitive Machines Odysseus lander in February, Blue Ghost’s mission further demonstrates the expanding role of commercial spaceflight in NASA’s broader Artemis program.

A Striking Image Of The Lunar Sunrise

Shortly after landing, Blue Ghost transmitted a spectacular image of the Sun rising over the Moon’s surface, revealing an intense contrast between the Sun’s brightness and the deep shadows cast over the rugged terrain.

Firefly Aerospace shared the image on the social media platform X, stating:

“Rise and shine! Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander captured its first sunrise on the moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home.”

The image provides a dramatic view of the lunar landscape, illustrating the unique lighting conditions and terrain where the lander has settled. This early success indicates that the lander’s imaging and communication systems are fully operational.

A growing commercial presence on the Moon

Firefly Aerospace’s CEO, Jason Kim, celebrated the company’s achievement, emphasizing that this is just the beginning for their lunar ambitions:

“Firefly is literally and figuratively over the Moon. This bold, unstoppable team has proven we’re well-equipped to deliver reliable, affordable access to the moon, and we won’t stop there.With annual lunar missions, Firefly is paving the way for a lasting lunar presence that will help unlock access to the rest of the solar system for our nation, our partners and the world.”

NASA’s CLPS program, under which Firefly was selected, aims to boost private sector involvement in lunar exploration.

Rise and shine! Firefly’s #BlueGhost lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our #GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 @NASA payloads aboard the lander and will… pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk

— Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 3, 2025

More private landers on the way

Blue Ghost is not the only private mission currently heading toward the Moon. Intuitive Machines’ second lunar lander, Athena IM-2, has already entered lunar orbit and is preparing for a landing attempt near the Moon’s south pole on March 6.

Also, Japan-based ispace’s Resilience lander is en route to the Moon, taking a longer trajectory that will position it for a landing attempt in late May or early June.

These missions represent a new era of lunar exploration, where private companies are taking the lead in delivering cargo, instruments, and eventually even astronauts to the Moon.

What’s next for Blue Ghost?

For the next two weeks, Blue Ghost will continue operating during the lunar day, collecting data and running experiments. However, the mission will conclude as the lunar night sets in, since the lander relies on solar power for energy.

The success of this mission not only validates Firefly Aerospace’s capabilities but also strengthens confidence in NASA’s partnership with private companies. As more commercial missions follow, the dream of a sustainable human presence on the Moon is becoming more tangible.

Blue Ghost’s journey is just one step in a much larger push to unlock the Moon’s secrets and prepare for the next great leap: human missions to Mars and beyond.