A private lunar lander, operated by Firefly Aerospace and funded by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, has captured breathtaking footage of the far side of the Moon. The Blue Ghost spacecraft is scheduled to land in Mare Crisium on March 2, offering a rare glimpse of a region hidden from Earth’s view.
The far side of the Moon features heavily cratered terrain and lacks the same level of volcanic activity as the near side. The footage captured by Blue Ghost reveals this rugged landscape in unprecedented detail. The spacecraft completed a precise orbital adjustment to snap incredible images from 120 km above the surface, showcasing sharp contrasts between the cratered landscape and lunar highlands.
The lander is carrying scientific payloads to study various aspects of the lunar environment, including the Moon’s electric and magnetic fields, X-ray images of Earth’s magnetosphere, and testing new lunar technologies. The mission aims to enhance our understanding of how the Moon interacts with Earth’s space weather and prepare for future human missions.
Blue Ghost will operate on the Moon for 14 days before shutting down due to extreme cold. It will capture a total eclipse and observe the lunar sunset during its mission, providing valuable insights into temperature changes and electrically charged dust levitation. The mission represents a major step in NASA’s plan to collaborate with private companies for lunar exploration.
The Blue Ghost mission demonstrates that commercial spaceflight can support deep-space missions, reducing costs and accelerating scientific progress. The insights gained from this mission will help pave the way for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable lunar presence.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/02/private-spacecraft-captures-mind-blowing-footage-of-the-moons-hidden-side