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Blue Ghost Mission 1: What to Watch For

Mission, dubbed ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’ by Blue Ghost manufacturer Firefly Aerospace, will attempt to land the lunar lander on the moon.

Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lunar lander moon
A digital rendering of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander sitting on the moon. [Courtesy: Firefly Aerospace]
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Key Takeaways:

  • NASA, in collaboration with SpaceX and Firefly Aerospace, is targeting Wednesday at 1:11 a.m. EST for the debut launch of the Blue Ghost Mission 1 lunar lander.
  • The Blue Ghost lander will carry NASA scientific equipment to the moon's Mare Crisium basin to study lunar soil, weather, and geography for approximately two weeks.
  • This mission, which includes a complex landing procedure for the pickup-truck-sized lander, is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, with two more Blue Ghost missions planned for 2026 and 2028.
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NASA and contractors SpaceX and Firefly Aerospace, the manufacturer of the Blue Ghost lunar lander, are targeting Wednesday at 1:11 a.m. EST for Blue Ghost Mission 1, also known as “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” The mission marks Blue Ghost’s debut flight to the moon, where the space agency’s scientific equipment will spend about two weeks studying the lunar soil, weather, and geography.

NASA is providing live coverage of Blue Ghost’s launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, available on the space agency’s website, NASA+ streaming service, and social media accounts. Firefly will also provide mission updates during the lander’s 45-day trip to the moon.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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