The moon is getting a lot of attention this year! There are three robotic spacecraft heading there, aiming to land on its surface. The first one, called the Blue Ghost lunar lander, was made by Firefly Aerospace in Texas and is set to arrive soon.
If you’re curious about the landing, it will happen at 3:45 a.m. Eastern Time on March 2. Firefly will start a live stream on their YouTube channel at 2:20 a.m., so you can catch the action as it unfolds.
The Blue Ghost is headed to a region called Mare Crisium, which is a flat area on the moon formed by ancient lava flowing into a giant crater. This crater is about 345 miles wide and dates back to when an asteroid impacted the moon. You’ll find Mare Crisium in the northeast area of the lunar near side.
What’s more interesting is what the Blue Ghost is bringing along. It’s carrying several science experiments, including ten payloads for NASA. These include a drill that will measure heat flow from the moon’s interior, a special dust shield designed to keep surfaces clean, and an X-ray camera. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service, which aims to deliver equipment to the moon at a lower cost than creating a lander from scratch. If the mission is fully successful and all ten payloads land safely, NASA will pay Firefly $101.5 million.
This landing marks a significant moment in lunar exploration, showcasing the collaboration between private companies and space agencies to advance our understanding of the moon.
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Moon,Firefly Aerospace Inc,Space and Astronomy,Private Spaceflight,National Aeronautics and Space Administration