Sunset on the moon seen in spectacular images taken by Blue Ghost lander
After completing a successful two-week mission, a lunar lander has bid farewell to Earth by sending back breathtaking sunset images. The Blue Ghost Mission 1 lander, launched by Firefly Aerospace in mid-January, touched down on the moon on March 2, marking the first triumphant commercial moon landing in history. Equipped with 10 NASA science and delivery payloads, the lander landed in the Mare Crisium basin, a lava-flooded region on the near side of the moon formed by an ancient asteroid impact.
These payloads, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services and Artemis programs, were deployed to collect valuable data and conduct scientific operations on the moon’s surface. During its lunar day stay, the Blue Ghost lander captured stunning images and videos, including a total solar eclipse and mesmerizing sunset views.
In a post on social media, Firefly Aerospace shared the sunset picture as the lander’s final goodbye gesture. The company marveled at the unique beauty of lunar sunsets and thanked the Blue Ghost for its historic mission accomplishments. The lander transmitted 119 gigabytes of data back to Earth during its mission, showcasing remarkable science and technology demonstrations.
Joel Kearns, the deputy associate administrator for exploration at NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, praised the complexity and success of the mission, highlighting the significant scientific findings expected from the data collected. The Blue Ghost mission set a record for the longest commercial mission, paving the way for future Commercial Lunar Payload Services endeavors that aim to deploy over 50 instruments across various lunar regions.
The success of the Blue Ghost Mission 1 underscores the advancement of commercial space exploration and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries on the moon. With a wealth of data to analyze, scientists and researchers are eager to uncover new insights and further our understanding of Earth’s celestial neighbor.
