Firefly’s Lunar Lander Achieves Historic Private Sector Soft Landing

A robotic lunar lander built by Texas-based company Firefly has successfully landed on the moon, marking a significant milestone in private space exploration. This achievement makes Firefly only the second private-sector company to successfully land on the moon.

The rarity of such events is attributed to several factors, as explained by former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao. According to Chiao, landing on the moon requires precise calculations and technical expertise due to its harsh environment. “Lunar landing is one of the most difficult challenges in space exploration,” Chiao said.

The soft lunar landing achieved by Firefly’s robotic lander demonstrates significant advancements in technology and space exploration capabilities. This achievement has sparked hope for future private sector participation in lunar missions, paving the way for further space exploration and research on the moon.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/02/science/video