A spacecraft named Blue Ghost successfully completed its mission on the moon, becoming the first commercial company to achieve a successful landing. Built by Firefly Aerospace, Blue Ghost conducted various experiments on the lunar surface, including drilling into the soil, taking X-ray images of Earth’s magnetic bubble, and seeking a mysterious yellow glow at sunset. The spacecraft was sponsored by NASA and carried 10 science and technology payloads to the moon.
During its mission, Blue Ghost tested technologies such as PlanetVac, which simplified the collection of soil and rocks, and the Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder, which measured currents inside the moon. The spacecraft also witnessed and photographed a total solar eclipse while on the moon’s surface.
Before the mission ended, Blue Ghost captured high-resolution images of the sunset to help scientists understand the mystery of the horizon glow observed by Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan in 1972. The spacecraft’s final message expressed a sense of accomplishment and admiration for the team behind its operation.
Although not designed to survive the lunar night, Firefly will monitor for any signs of radio messages from Blue Ghost once the sun rises over the moon. The success of Blue Ghost’s mission highlights the potential for commercial companies to undertake scientific ventures in space at lower costs.
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