Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Landers Captures Stunning Lunar Sunrise

OTTAWA, Canada — Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost lunar lander has successfully landed on the Moon, capturing its first sunrise shortly after beginning operations on March 2, 2025. The lander touched down close to Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium, a significant milestone marking the second private spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.

The dramatic sunrise was documented in a photograph shared on social media by Firefly on March 3, showcasing the bright sun rising over a landscape characterized by shadowed craters and an uneven terrain. This visual marks the beginning of a 14-day lunar day for Blue Ghost, during which its science payloads will begin active operations.

“Rise and shine! Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the start of surface operations in its new home,” Firefly announced, highlighting enthusiasm around the mission objectives.

According to Firefly, the lander is equipped with ten payloads from NASA, focused on various scientific studies, encompassing lunar geology, heat flow, and specimen material collection. The mission will also assess new drilling technologies and document how lunar dust interacts with solar radiation at sunset.

“Firefly is literally and figuratively over the moon,” said Firefly CEO Jason Kim during the post-landing announcement. “This bold, unstoppable team has proven we’re well-equipped to deliver reliable, affordable access to the moon.”

Blue Ghost launched on a Falcon 9 rocket on January 15, 2025, and landed on the Moon 46 days later. The landing was preceded by a series of critical maneuvers that ensured a safe touchdown in Mare Crisium.

“Every single thing was clockwork, even when we landed. We’ve got some moon dust on our boots!” Kim remarked, emphasizing the success of the mission thus far.

NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program selected Blue Ghost to support lunar exploration. This program contracts private companies to facilitate new science and technology on the lunar surface. Firefly’s success adds to a growing list of commercial lunar initiatives, encouraging future private endeavors in space.

Another significant player in the lunar exploration arena is ispace, a Tokyo-based company that is set to land its own lunar lander soon, as it travels its path toward a potential landing later this spring. Meanwhile, NASA anticipates further commercial contributions to lunar exploration as missions continue to unfold.

Looking ahead, one of the mission’s highlights is scheduled for March 14, when Blue Ghost will capture high-definition images of an eclipse as Earth obscures the sun from the Moon’s perspective. This eclipse event will also be observable from Earth, providing a unique opportunity for skywatchers. On March 16, the lander will document a lunar sunset and the behavior of lunar dust in response to solar influences.

As Blue Ghost embarks on its pivotal 14-day exploration, the mission stands as a testament to the growing role of private companies in advancing humanity’s reach into space.