On January 15, 2025, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched two lunar landers: Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 and ispace’s RESILIENCE.
Blue Ghost Mission 1:
- Objective:Deliver 10 science and technology instruments to the Moon’s surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
- Payloads:Includes instruments for regolith sample collection, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) testing, radiation-tolerant computing, and lunar dust mitigation.
- Landing Site:Mare Crisium, a large basin on the Moon’s near side.
- Mission Duration:Approximately 60 days, including 45 days in transit and 14 days on the lunar surface.
RESILIENCE:
- Objective:Deliver commercial and cultural payloads to the Moon’s surface.
- Payloads:Includes water electrolyzer equipment and a deep space radiation probe.
- Mission Status:As of January 17, 2025, RESILIENCE completed its first orbital maneuver and is en route to the Moon.