NASA and Firefly Aerospace are set to land the Blue Ghost lunar lander on the Moon early on March 2, 2025. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and Artemis campaign, which aim to build a lasting human presence on the Moon. Blue Ghost will touch down near Mare Crisium, a flat plain on the Moon’s near side, carrying important scientific tools and new technology for future space exploration.
About the Blue Ghost Lunar Lander
Blue Ghost is a robotic lunar lander developed by Firefly Aerospace. It launched on January 15, 2025, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On board are 10 NASA science investigations and technology demonstrations. These experiments will help scientists learn more about the Moon’s environment and test tools designed to support future astronauts, not just on the Moon but also on Mars.
Mission Importance and NASA’s CLPS Initiative
The Blue Ghost mission is part of NASA’s CLPS initiative, which works with American companies to deliver science instruments and technology to the lunar surface. This helps NASA advance its goals under the Artemis program. The goal of Artemis is to send astronauts back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. CLPS contracts allow companies like Firefly to bid for delivery services, including payload handling and lunar landing. Firefly’s contract for this mission is worth about $101.5 million.
Landing and Live Coverage Details
The Blue Ghost lander is scheduled to touch down on the Moon at no earlier than 3:34 a.m. EST on Sunday, March 2. NASA and Firefly will start live coverage at 2:20 a.m. EST, about 75 minutes before the landing, on NASA+ and Firefly’s YouTube channel. The broadcast will include live streaming, blog updates, and coverage of key descent milestones.
Media members who want to attend the landing event in person in Austin, Texas, can request credentials by February 24, 2025.
After the landing, NASA and Firefly will hold a news conference to share updates about the mission and discuss future science activities on the lunar surface.
How to Stay Connected
People interested in following the mission can watch live on NASA+ and engage on social media using the hashtag #Artemis. NASA’s official accounts on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram will share updates and behind-the-scenes content throughout the mission.
The Blue Ghost lunar lander mission is a big step in NASA’s plan to explore the Moon and prepare for future human missions. By testing new technology and carrying out science investigations, Blue Ghost will help improve our understanding of the Moon’s surface and environment. This mission supports NASA’s Artemis program goals to establish a lasting human presence on the Moon and prepare for crewed missions to Mars. With live coverage and social media updates, the public can stay closely connected to this exciting journey to the Moon.
