Firefly Aerospace achieves first lunar landing
According to NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro, this achievement “demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all”. The lander carried 10 NASA science and technology instruments, which will operate on the lunar surface for about one lunar day—approximately 14 Earth days.
“We have already learned many lessons—and the technological and science demonstrations onboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 will improve our ability to not only discover more science, but to ensure the safety of our spacecraft instruments for future human exploration—both in the short term and long term,” Petro explained.