Firefly Aerospace becomes first private firm to achieve soft touchdown on the Moon, paving way for future human missions under NASA’s Artemis program.
Firefly Aerospace has etched its name into space history with the successful landing of its Blue Ghost lunar lander on March 2, 2025 — the first commercial spacecraft to achieve a flawless soft touchdown on the Moon.
The company has now unveiled dramatic footage capturing the moment Blue Ghost descended onto the Mare Crisium region, its thrusters firing as it settled upright in a stable configuration at 3:34 a.m. EST. The video, hailed as a milestone in space exploration, showcases the precision and promise of private-sector spaceflight.
The mission, conducted under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, carried 10 scientific instruments designed to study lunar soil, radiation, and surface conditions, while also testing next-generation technologies such as subsurface drilling and dust mitigation. These experiments are critical for advancing scientific knowledge and preparing for long-duration human presence under NASA’s Artemis program.
Standing 2 meters tall, Blue Ghost launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center on January 15. After a 45-day journey and 16 days orbiting the Moon, the spacecraft completed more than two weeks of surface operations, transmitting valuable data back to Earth.
Firefly’s achievement marks a significant leap forward for commercial spaceflight, outshining previous attempts such as Intuitive Machines’ angled landing plagued by technical setbacks. The company is already planning future Blue Ghost missions, including a 2026 far-side landing to support even more ambitious scientific goals.
With this historic success, Firefly Aerospace has positioned itself as a central player in the future of lunar exploration, bridging science, technology, and commerce in humanity’s return to the Moon.
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