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Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander safely landed in the Mare Crisium region of the Moon.

About Blue Ghost Mission  

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander successfully touched down on the Moon on March 2, 2025, marking the first fully successful commercial lunar landing.

The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, delivered 10 scientific instruments to the lunar surface to study its geology, dust behavior, and subsurface properties.

Key Objectives and Payloads

• A drill will measure temperatures up to 10 feet (3 meters) below the surface, providing insights into the Moon’s thermal evolution.
• Dust Mitigation device aims to address abrasive lunar dust, a challenge for past missions.
• The lander tested Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capabilities at a record-breaking distance of 246,000 miles, demonstrating potential for future lunar missions.
• The payloads will operate for one lunar day (14 Earth days), with limited battery power extending functionality into the lunar night .

Landing Site

The lander targeted Mare Crisium, a volcanic basin near the Moon’s northeastern edge.

Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Program

CLPS is a NASA initiative to partner with private companies for cost-effective lunar missions. It aims to:

• Accelerate Moon exploration by leveraging private-sector innovation.
• Build a competitive ecosystem of space companies for future human and cargo missions under the Artemis program .

How Does It Work?

• NASA contracts companies to deliver payloads (scientific instruments, tech demos) to the Moon.
• Companies can also carry payloads for other clients, such as universities or foreign agencies .

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Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS