NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) recently captured an image of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, which successfully landed on the Moon’s surface early Sunday morning. The photo, taken from 109 miles away, shows the lunar surface in sharp relief but features a remarkably small version of the lander – it’s actually just one pixel in the image.
The Blue Ghost, also known as Ghost Riders in the Sky, is part of a mission to demonstrate 10 NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services instruments. Since its landing, the lander has begun deploying its payloads, collecting Moon rock samples, and taking additional photos from the surface.
The lander will spend two weeks analyzing the lunar surface using NASA instruments, helping scientists better understand the Moon in preparation for future human exploration. The mission marks a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight, with Blue Ghost now on the Moon to conduct scientific research and pave the way for more sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/nasa-orbiter-captures-stunning-view-of-blue-ghost-lander-on-the-moon-2000572048