Blue Ghost Mission:
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander has successfully touched down on the Moon’s Mare Crisium region after a nerve-wracking powered descent.
- Blue Ghost lander, developed by Firefly Aerospace,is carrying 10 NASA payloads as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which aims to stimulate lunar commerce through private-sector competition.
- The Blue Ghost mission aims to enhance our understanding of the lunar environment.
- The lander carries a vacuum, called Lunar PlanetVac (LPV), to collect lunar soil samples and a drill capable of measuring temperatures up to 10 feet (3 meters) below the surface.
- The lander will study heat flow from the Moon’s interior, helping scientists understand its thermal evolution.
- It will analyse plume-surface interactions to improve landing techniques by examining how lunar regolith reacts to the lander’s engine plumes
- By collecting data on the Moon’s magnetic and electric fields, researchers will gain insights into its geological history.
- The lander will operate for approximately 14 Earth days, equivalent to one complete lunar day, conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations.
