Blue Ghost Lander Captures Stunning First Sunrise on the Moon

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, which successfully landed on the Moon's Mare Crisium on March 2, has captured a breathtaking image of the first sunrise on the lunar surface.

A Stunning Lunar Sunrise

The image, shared by Firefly Aerospace on X (formerly Twitter), showcases the Sun’s rays illuminating the rugged terrain, with deep craters visible on the uneven surface.

"Rise and shine! Firefly's #BlueGhost lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our #GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 @NASA payloads aboard the lander and will continue operations over the next two weeks and into the lunar night," Firefly's post read.

Mission Overview

The Blue Ghost mission was launched on January 15 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and spent a month orbiting Earth before heading toward the Moon. After a 16-day lunar orbit, the lander refined its trajectory and successfully touched down near Mons Latreille, an ancient volcanic feature on the Moon's near side.

The lander is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and carries 10 scientific payloads aimed at advancing lunar research.

Scientific Objectives

The mission will operate for one lunar day (approximately 14 Earth days), conducting various scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. Key objectives include:

• Studying the lunar environment to support future exploration.
• Capturing the lunar horizon glow, a phenomenon last observed by Apollo astronauts more than 50 years ago.

With operations now in full swing, the Blue Ghost mission is set to provide valuable insights into the Moon’s surface and its unique conditions.