Firefly Aerospace makes history with Blue Ghost 1: First private company to land on the Moon

A few days ago, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 spacecraft achieved a historic milestone by successfully landing on the Moon, becoming the first private company to do so. The breakthrough marks a before and after in the commercial space race, where Firefly has consolidated its leadership in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission. The lunar module lifted off on 15 January aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and on 2 March, at 3:34 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, it landed on Mare Crisium. At this very moment, NASA has confirmed that Blue Ghost 1 is in a stable position on the lunar surface.

This achievement is a paradigm shift for NASA, opening the door to collaboration with private companies for future lunar missions. ‘The lessons learned and science demonstrations aboard Blue Ghost 1 will enhance our ability to make scientific discoveries and ensure instrument safety on our future space missions,’ said Janet Petro, NASA’s acting administrator. Key tools carried aboard the spacecraft included a lunar soil analyser, a radiation-resistant computer and an experiment to test the feasibility of GPS in lunar navigation.

Although Firefly has pioneered such private missions, it is not the first company to attempt a landing on the Moon. In 2024, Intuitive Machines, another US company, tried with the IM1 spacecraft, but the mission failed due to a capsize of the module. Despite failed attempts by other companies, the success of Blue Ghost 1 marks a turning point in lunar exploration, with Firefly positioning itself as a reliable provider within the CLPS programme.

This breakthrough also supports NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon in 2025, the first time since 1972. In addition to its commercial impact, Blue Ghost 1 has a crucial scientific goal: to collect data to help in the planning of future human missions to both the Moon and Mars. Just after landing, the lander captured the first images of the lunar surface, which were proudly shared on NASA’s social media. In the coming days, it is also expected to capture high-definition images of the lunar eclipse on 14 March.

On 6 March, Intuitive Machines will attempt a rematch with the Athena mission, another step towards a future in which private companies play a key role in the expansion of the lunar economy. The horizon is full of possibilities, and the race to dominate the lunar market looks more competitive than ever.

NASA creates a time zone for the Moon.