Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander has concluded its groundbreaking mission after a full lunar day of operation, marking the longest private mission on the Moon to date. The lander, part of Firefly’s inaugural commercial delivery mission, successfully transmitted its final data packet on Sunday at 7:15 p.m. ET, succumbing to the frigid lunar night. Blue Ghost touched down on March 2, 2025, in the Mare Crisium, an ancient impact basin, executing a flawless landing.
Over the course of 14 days, Blue Ghost diligently executed its surface operations, deploying its payload suite and transmitting over 119 gigabytes of valuable data back to Earth. The lander was not designed to withstand the extreme cold of the lunar night, limiting the mission duration. “Lunar landings are inherently complex, especially on a first attempt,” stated Will Coogan, chief engineer of the Blue Ghost mission at Firefly Aerospace. “We rigorously tested every system and simulated countless scenarios to ensure mission success.”
Blue Ghost Lunar Sunset Credit: Firefly Aerospace
The “Ghost Riders in the Sky” mission carried 10 NASA instruments as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. These instruments were designed to gather crucial data about the lunar surface environment, supporting future human lunar missions. Key findings include data on using GPS-like signals for lunar navigation, the impact of engine plumes on the lunar surface, and the effectiveness of an electrodynamic dust shield in removing lunar regolith from sensitive surfaces like glass and thermal radiators.
Blue Ghost on the Moon Credit: Firefly Aerospace
Beyond the NASA payloads, Firefly also conducted its own lunar experiments. Blue Ghost captured a total solar eclipse from the Moon on March 14, coinciding with a total lunar eclipse visible from Earth. Two days later, the lander documented a lunar sunset, capturing an image of Earth rising above the lunar horizon. Blue Ghost continued to operate for approximately five hours into the lunar night before ceasing communications. Firefly reports that Blue Ghost achieved 100% of its mission objectives.
Firefly is already planning annual lunar missions and is developing its Blue Ghost Mission 2, targeted for the far side of the Moon. This successful mission marks Firefly as the second private company to achieve a lunar landing, following Intuitive Machines’ landing in February 2024. However, Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander experienced landing complications, tipping over on its side. Their subsequent mission also encountered issues and was declared lost shortly after landing on March 6, 2025. Firefly’s successful Blue Ghost mission underscores the growing capabilities of private companies in lunar exploration.
