Firefly Aerospace, a Texas-based company, is expanding its lunar ambitions with the launch of a new moon project called Ocula. The “lunar imaging service” will provide critical data for future human and robotic missions, supporting national security through intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Powered by a constellation of Elytra vehicles in lunar orbit, Ocula aims to fill a void in the nation’s advanced lunar imaging capabilities with a sustainable commercial business model. The project will equip Elytra probes with high-resolution telescopes developed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
These telescopes can resolve features as small as 8 inches on the lunar surface from an altitude of 31 miles, supporting situational awareness and fine-grained details. Ocula data could help researchers select landing sites for future missions and identify concentrations of ilmenite, a potential fuel source for nuclear fusion reactors.
The service will kick off next year, with the first Elytra scope-equipped vehicle launching on the second Blue Ghost lunar landing mission. The spacecraft will serve as a communications relay and begin imaging the lunar surface in detail after completing its duties. Additional scopes will launch in 2028 and beyond, expanding Firefly’s constellation of Elytra vehicles to enhance the Ocula service.
Ocula data can be licensed to both government and commercial customers, providing a sustainable business model for Firefly Aerospace. The project demonstrates the company’s growing ambitions in lunar exploration and its commitment to supporting national security through advanced imaging capabilities.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight