Moment 'Blue Ghost' Lunar Lander Touched the Moon's Surface | WATCH

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander made its historic landing on the Moon’s Mare Crisium region on Sunday.

This groundbreaking landing marks a crucial milestone in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon.

Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 15, 2025, Blue Ghost spent a month orbiting Earth before beginning its 16-day journey toward the Moon. The spacecraft refined its trajectory during lunar orbit, ensuring a precise landing near Mons Latreille, a site chosen for its scientific value.

Also Read: What is 'Blue Ghost' Lander Off to the Moon's Mare Crisium

NASA shared a video of the landing with the caption: “Blue Ghost has landed, safely delivering 10 NASA scientific investigations and tech demos that will help us learn more about the lunar environment and support future astronauts on the Moon and Mars.”

The Blue Ghost will operate for approximately 14 Earth days, conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations.

Also Read: Firefly Aerospace Shares Stunning Visuals As Blue Ghost Enters Final Lunar Orbit | WATCH

The Blue Ghost is groundbreaking because it will capture the lunar horizon glow in stunning 4K resolution, a phenomenon last observed more than 50 years ago by Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 astronauts.

Additionally, the mission is designed to capture high-definition imagery of an eclipse on March 14, when Earth will block the Sun from the Moon’s horizon. Then, on March 16, it will record a lunar sunset, offering new insights into how lunar dust rises above the surface under solar influence. This process, which creates the mysterious horizon glow, was first documented by Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan.

Blue Ghost’s success marks another leap for private space companies, reinforcing their crucial role in NASA’s Artemis program.

Following Blue Ghost’s achievement, two more private landers are set for lunar landings. These missions represent the future of lunar exploration, paving the way for sustained human presence beyond Earth.