A total lunar eclipse on March 13-14 will plunge lunar spacecraft into darkness, but two solar-powered moon probes – NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost – are prepared to survive the event.
During the eclipse, LRO’s battery will be charged to its maximum capacity before scientific instruments are shut down to prevent excessive power draw. The spacecraft’s temperature can drop as low as 23°F (-5°C), so heaters will be activated beforehand to maintain normal operating temperatures and instrument survival limits.
Unlike previous eclipses where one instrument was kept on, LRO has taken more drastic measures, with all instruments powered off during the eclipse. However, this setup allows the spacecraft to conserve energy while minimizing added power draw from heaters.
Blue Ghost, a private lunar mission, will also face challenges due to its solar-powered design and limited battery life. Although the lander can survive several hours into lunar night on battery power alone, it will be plunged into darkness for 6 hours, 3 minutes during the total lunar eclipse.
Despite these challenges, Firefly Aerospace is confident that Blue Ghost will survive the event, even going so far as to take high-resolution images of the eclipse from its lunar surface. As observers gaze up at the moon during the total lunar eclipse, let’s spare a thought for these space probes battling through the darkness to survive.
Source: https://www.space.com/total-lunar-eclipse-march-2025-what-happens-to-solar-powered-spacecraft