Lunar exploration is an area where you must regularly face unforeseen events and technical challenges. Thus, several landingers have experienced little glorious destinies. Recently, for example, there was the Athena probe of NASA. Unfortunately, she landed on the side instead of landing vertically, which was fatal to her.
A successful scientific mission for the Blue Ghost landing
The landing has completed the scientific missions entrusted to him. He notably carried out boreholes of the lunar surface in order to take samples. As a bonus, Blue Ghost captured striking images on the surface of the moon.
We were able to admire a magnificent sunrise on the moon, then an incredible sunset a few days later. Indeed, a lunar day corresponds to 14 terrestrial days.
Blue Ghost was designed to be operational for about two terrestrial weeks. So he spent a full lunar day from sunrise to bedtime. The landing started with spectacular earth photos on January 23, 2025 when the engines are switched on.
From earth to moon, the trip of Blue Ghost captured in spectacular images
He then filmed his spaceship in the foreground with the earth in the background. These were the last images of the earth so close before Blue Ghost landed on the moon.
We were able to see the surface of our natural satellite with its craters. He also shared a video of his approach on the moon, then of his landing.
Blue Ghost landed on the moon on March 2, 2025. His first photo is also one of the most emblematic of the mission called Blue Ghost Mission 1 (or Ghost Riders in the Sky) by NASA. This image is a kind of creative selfie. We see the silhouette of the landing on the surface with the earth which seems very small in the background.
© Firefly Aerospace
Blue Ghost's selfie – Photo credit: Firefly Aerospace
A rare lunar eclipse also occurred during the mission of Blue Ghost. He thus captured an incredible image tinged with red when the sun passed behind the earth. Rather, it would be a terrestrial eclipse from the point of view of the landing on the moon.
The first sunset seen from the moon
Blue Ghost also took a photo of the earth during this eclipse. It is an incredibly rare point of view that we were able to admire. Finally, the last two grandiose images are a sunrise and its bedtime.
© Firefly Aerospace
The sunrise seen from the moon – Photo credit: Firefly Aerospace
The craters of our natural satellite bathed in the rays of the rising sun. It was also the first time in the history of space exploration that we have photographed a sunset from the moon.
The sunset seen from the moon – Photo credit: Firefly Aerospace
After these two weeks rich in adventures, Blue Ghost who was not designed to withstand the freezing cold of the lunar night died. He said goodbye in a last message transmitted five hours after sunset.
The landing has fareweed from the moon
“Good night, friends. After exchanging our latest data, I will watch out for this specific place of Mare Crisium to observe the continuation of the journey from humanity to the stars. Here, I will survive your greatest rivers, to your highest mountains, and perhaps even to your species as we know it. But it is remarkable that a species can survive thanks to its own ingenuity, ”he transmitted.
The sun will rise again on the moon at the beginning of April. Firefly Aerospace will then be attentive to possible messages from Blue Ghost in case the landing has survived in the lunar night.
Anyway, Jason Kim, Managing Director of Firefly, is proud of this mission. “I am convinced that the historic mission of Firefly and Blue Ghost will open a new chapter and become an example of what humanity can accomplish,” he said.
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