Firefly’s first Blue Ghost mission, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, will deliver 10 scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.

Blue Ghost will spend approximately 45 days in transit to the Moon, allowing ample time to conduct health checks on each subsystem and begin payload science. Blue Ghost will then land in Mare Crisium and operate payloads for a complete lunar day (about 14 Earth days). Following payload operations, Blue Ghost will capture imagery of the lunar sunset and provide critical data on how lunar regolith reacts to solar influences during lunar dusk conditions. The lander will then operate for several hours into the lunar night.

Standing 2 m (6.6 ft) tall and 3.5 m (11.5 ft) wide, Blue Ghost is designed to stick the landing with shock absorbing feet, a low center of mass, and a wide footprint. Blue Ghost’s core components, including the panels, struts, legs, harnesses, avionics, batteries, and thrusters, were built using many of the same flight-proven technologies common to all of Firefly’s launch and orbital vehicles.

Payloads

The payloads on Blue Ghost Mission 1 will help advance lunar research and conduct several first-of-its-kind demonstrations, including testing regolith sample collection, Global Navigation Satellite System abilities, radiation tolerant computing, and lunar dust mitigation. These investigations will help pave the way for humanity’s return to the Moon. The data captured will also benefit humans on Earth by providing insights into how space weather and other cosmic forces impact Earth, among other valuable research.

Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER)

Honeybee Robotics (Blue Origin)

LISTER will characterize heat flow from the interior of the Moon by measuring the thermal gradient and conductivity of the lunar subsurface. It will take several measurements to a 2-3 meter final depth using its pneumatic drilling technology with a custom heat flow needle instrument at its tip.

Lunar PlanetVac (LPV)

Honeybee Robotics (Blue Origin)

The Lunar PlanetVac will demonstrate pneumatic sample collection of lunar regolith by collecting and sorting regolith within its sample collection chamber. Upon deployment to the surface, PlanetVac will fire a blast of gas into the lunar surface. In a matter of seconds, the surface regolith would be lofted to a collection chamber for visual (camera) inspection. Additional gas jets within the sorting station will perform sieving. The sorting station includes material coupons to test regolith dust adhesion and efficiency of gas jets as a cleaning agent. In comparison to alternative sample collection methods, such as robotic arms, PlanetVac will demons

Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector (NGLR)

University of Maryland

NGLR will support the determination of the distance between Earth and the Moon by reflecting very short laser pulses from Earth-based Lunar Laser Ranging Observatories (LLROs) and measuring the laser pulse transit time to the Moon and back. NGLR will greatly improve the data that is still being obtained from the Apollo era retroreflectors and will support sub-millimeter range measurements. The analysis within the Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) program will improve our understanding of the inner structure of the Moon, address modified theories of gravitation and dark matter, and further research in lunar physics and cosmology.

Regolith Adherence Characterization (RAC)

Aegis Aerospace

RAC will determine how lunar regolith sticks to a range of materials exposed to the Moon’s environment throughout the lunar day. RAC will measure accumulation rates of lunar regolith on the surfaces of several materials (e.g., solar cells, optical systems, coatings, and sensors) through imaging to determine their ability to repel or shed lunar dust. The data captured will allow the industry to test, improve, and protect spacecraft, spacesuits, and habitats from abrasive regolith.

Radiation Tolerant Computer (RadPC)

Montana State University

RadPC will demonstrate a computer that can recover from faults caused by ionizing radiation. Several RadPC prototypes have been tested aboard the ISS and Earth-orbiting satellites, but we’ll provide the biggest trial yet by demonstrating the computer’s ability to withstand space radiation as it passes through the Earth’s radiation belts, while in transit to the Moon, and on the lunar surface.

Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS)

NASA Kennedy Space Center

The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) is an active dust mitigation technology that uses electric fields to move dust from surfaces and to prevent dust accumulation on surfaces. The EDS, which can lift, transport, and remove particles from surfaces with no moving parts, will be demonstrated for the first time on the lunar surface. This technology will show the feasibility of self-cleaning glass and thermal radiator surfaces. In addition to dust removal, the EDS will apply lunar dust to these surfaces using a new reduster technology that will lift and transport dust from the lunar surface to the desired location without moving parts or gasses. The EDS will be released from a fifth leg of the lander and positioned directly onto the lunar surface to maximize dust contact.

Lunar Environment heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI)

Boston University; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Johns Hopkins University

LEXI will capture a series of X-ray images to study the interaction of solar wind and the Earth’s magnetic field that drives geomagnetic disturbances and storms. This instrument will provide the first global images showing the edge of Earth’s magnetic field for critical insights into how space weather and other cosmic forces surrounding our planet impact Earth.

Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS)

Southwest Research Institute

LMS will characterize the structure and composition of the Moon’s mantle by measuring electric and magnetic fields. This investigation will help determine the Moon’s temperature structure and thermal evolution to understand how the Moon has cooled and chemically differentiated since it formed.

Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS)

Southwest Research Institute

LMS will characterize the structure and composition of the Moon’s mantle by measuring electric and magnetic fields. This investigation will help determine the Moon’s temperature structure and thermal evolution to understand how the Moon has cooled and chemically differentiated since it formed.

Stereo CAmera for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS)

NASA Langley Research Center

SCALPSS will use stereo imaging photogrammetry to capture the impact of rocket plume on lunar regolith as our lander descends on the Moon’s surface. The high-resolution stereo images will aid in creating models to predict lunar regolith erosion – an important task as bigger, heavier payloads are delivered to the Moon in close proximity to each other.

Courtesy of Firefly.

Hakuto-R Mission 2 is a robotic lunar landing mission. Developed by ispace, the lander will deliver a new micro rover manufactured by the company, and other payloads. Like Hakuto-R Mission 1 this mission will serve as a technology demonstration, with the final goal of providing reliable transportation and data services on the moon. The lander is named Resilience.

The project began development after the Hakuto-R Mission 1 in 2023. The mission plans to use the same overall design with upgrades from the flight data collected in mission 1.

The Resilience lander will stand 2.5 by 2.3 meters and has a weight of 340 kg. The lander will include a micro rover that is planned to perform an ISRU demonstration.

The mission is planned to launch no earlier than January 2025. The lander will also carry a memory disk developed by the UNESCO organization carrying 275 languages and other cultural artifacts. The lander completed successful vacuum testing in June 2024. In August 2024, the rover which will be integrated with the lander was completed. In November 2024, the lander has arrived at the launch site in Florida.

Mare Frigoris is the dark band extending from upper left to lower right.

The intended landing site for mission is in Mare Frigoris, a location allowing continuous line-of-sight radio communication from Earth.

The mission includes a 5 kg (11 lb) rover designed and manufactured in Luxembourg which will explore the area around the landing site, after being lowered to the lunar surface from the lander.

In addition to the rover the lander will carry payloads from Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Euglena Co., National Central University and Bandai Namco Research Institute, Inc.

Caption courtesy of Wikipedia. Image courtesy of ispace.

Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond.

Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket.

Stats

Total launches: 425

Total landings: 381

Total reflights: 354

The Falcon 9 has launched 52 humans into orbit since May 2020

Specs

Height: 70 m / 229.6 ft

Diameter: 3.7 m / 12 ft

Mass: 549,054 kg / 1,207,920 lb

Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO): 22,800 kg / 50,265 lb

Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO): 8,300 kg / 18,300 lb

Payload to Mars: 4,020 kg / 8,860 lb

On January 24, 2021, Falcon 9 launched the first ride-share mission to Sun Synchronous Orbit. It was delivering a record-setting 143 satellites to space. And while this was an important mission for SpaceX in itself, it was also the moment Falcon 9 overtook United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V for the total number of consecutive successful launches.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 had become America’s workhorse rocket, launching 31 times in 2021. It has already beaten that record this year, launching almost an average of once a week. While most of the launches deliver Starlink satellites to orbit, the company is still launching the most commercial payloads to orbit, too.

Falcon 9 is a medium-lift launch vehicle, with the capability to launch over 22.8 metric tonnes to low earth orbit. Unlike any other rocket, its first stage lands back on Earth after separating from its second stage. In part, this allows SpaceX to offer the cheapest option for most customers with payloads that need to reach orbit.

Under its ride-share program, a kilogram can be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit for a mere 1.1 million dollars, far cheaper than all other currently operating small satellite launch vehicles.

The reusability and fast booster turnaround times have made Falcon 9 the preferred choice for private companies and government agencies. This has allowed SpaceX to capture a huge portion of the launch market.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Hautmann for Supercluster.

Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) is a historic launch site located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Originally constructed in the late 1960s, LC-39A was designed to support the Apollo program, including the groundbreaking Apollo 11 mission that first landed humans on the Moon in 1969. The pad also played a crucial role in launching Skylab missions and was instrumental during the Space Shuttle era, including the launch of the first Space Shuttle, Columbia, on STS-1 in 1981.

In 2014, SpaceX leased LC-39A from NASA and undertook extensive refurbishments to adapt the pad for its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. These upgrades involved significant modifications to the pad's infrastructure to meet the requirements of SpaceX’s rockets. Since then, LC-39A has become a vital launch site for SpaceX, supporting a range of missions including crewed flights under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Under SpaceX's management, LC-39A has been the site of several landmark events. It hosted the first Falcon 9 launch from the pad on March 30, 2017, and was the launch site for the historic Falcon Heavy debut on February 6, 2018, which was the most powerful rocket in operation at that time. Additionally, LC-39A was the launch site for the first crewed flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft on May 30, 2020, marking the first crewed spaceflight from U.S. soil since the end of the Shuttle program.

Today, LC-39A remains a critical asset for SpaceX, supporting both crewed and uncrewed missions. It continues to serve as a launch site for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets and is expected to play a central role in future missions, including those aimed at lunar exploration and beyond. The pad's rich history and ongoing significance highlight its importance in the broader context of space exploration.

Photo courtesy of Erik Kuna for Supercluster

The Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship "Just Read The Instructions" (JRTI) is one of two recovery ships stationed in the Atlantic Ocean for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets. The original version of JRTI operated in the Pacific Ocean, supporting launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It was later upgraded and relocated to the East Coast, primarily operating out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Its first Atlantic Ocean mission was in June 2020, supporting the 8th Starlink launch.

JRTI is an autonomous vessel serving as a mobile landing platform, crucial to SpaceX's efforts to recover and reuse rocket components, which significantly reduces spaceflight costs. The ship's name, "Just Read The Instructions," is inspired by a spacecraft in Iain M. Banks' *Culture* series, known for its whimsical and thought-provoking names.

Equipped with a large landing platform and advanced navigation systems, JRTI uses thrusters to maintain precise positioning, even in rough seas. It works in tandem with the other SpaceX drone ship, "A Shortfall of Gravitas" (ASOG), both of which have been instrumental in SpaceX's success in landing and reusing rocket boosters.

Photo courtesy of SpaceX

During the final hour of descent, Blue Ghost uses vision-based terrain relative navigation and hazard avoidance to measure the lander’s position and identify craters, slopes, and rocks before selecting the final hazard-free target within the landing zone. Blue Ghost’s RCS thrusters pulse as needed throughout the descent for a soft landing.

Blue Ghost will land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, a large basin located in the northeast quadrant of the Moon’s near side. Mare Crisium was created by early volcanic eruptions and flooded with basaltic lava more than 3 billion years ago. This unique landing site will allow our payload partners to gather critical data about the Moon’s regolith, geophysical characteristics, and the interaction of solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field.

Courtesy of Firefly.

Hakuto-R's primary landing site for will be near the center of Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold), 60.5 degrees north latitude and 4.6 degrees west longitude, an expansive basaltic plain situated in the Moon’s northern hemisphere.

The primary landing site was chosen along with multiple contingencies to ensure operational flexibility while maintaining scientific and logistical continuity. The site meets the technical specifications of the RESILIENCE lander as well as exploration objectives for the TENACIOUS micro rover, in addition to mission requirements of other payload customers. Careful consideration of the target site criteria included continuous sun-illumination duration and communication visibility from the Earth. A projected landing date has not yet been announced.

Courtesy of ispace.