Blue Ghost successfully lands on the moon

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander successfully touched down on the moon early Sunday, marking the first successful moon landing by a commercial spacecraft. The landing occurred in Mare Crisium after a 63-minute descent from lunar orbit. The Blue Ghost will conduct ten NASA-sponsored experiments during the lunar day, utilizing solar power and stored battery energy. This mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, which aims to prepare for future crewed lunar missions. Firefly has secured additional contracts for future lunar missions, including a $130 million contract for a second flight in 2026. Other commercial landers are also scheduled to land on the moon soon, expanding private sector involvement in lunar exploration.