NASA has captured an image of its private Blue Ghost lander, which successfully landed on the moon’s surface earlier this week. The Firefly Aerospace-built robotic lander touched down in Mare Crisium, a large impact basin about 345 miles wide. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) took photos of the lander from 109 miles away, showing it as a single bright pixel casting a shadow over volcanic terrain.
Blue Ghost is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program and carried 10 demonstration instruments to the moon as part of its mission. The lander will study the moon, deploy payloads, sample lunar soil, and conduct technology demonstrations for about two Earth weeks before shutting down on March 16.
The successful landing provides valuable insight that can help prepare for future crewed Artemis missions and a sustained human presence on the moon.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/private-blue-ghost-lander-spotted-on-the-moon-by-nasa-lunar-orbiter-photo