The US space company Firefly Aerospace and NASA have started surface operations on the lunar lander Blue Ghost, which landed on the Moon on March 2. The team has successfully deployed several scientific instruments and began collecting data. Key findings include:
* The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) demonstrated its ability to remove lunar regolith using electrical forces, paving the way for future lunar surface operations.
* The Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) tracked Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals on the lunar surface for the first time ever, about 225,000 miles away from Earth.
* The Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS) captured images during descent and touchdown, which could provide insights into engine plumes’ effects on the surface.
* The Lunar PlanetVac deployed by Blue Ghost’s Surface Access Arm began collecting lunar regolith samples.
NASA payloads will continue to collect science data on the Moon for 14 days as part of the agency’s Artemis campaign.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2025/03/04/blue-ghost-begins-surface-operations-captures-descent-video-sunrise