NASA is set to embark on its first mission to the Moon’s Sea of Crises, Mare Crisium, with its robotic lander Blue Ghost. The four-legged craft, named after a rare firefly, will be carrying 10 science instruments and technology tests as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
The mission aims to test technologies that may benefit future human explorers on the lunar surface. On board are instruments designed to probe the lunar mantle, measure heat flow in the interior, and observe interactions between Earth’s magnetosphere and the solar wind.
Blue Ghost will conduct a 14-day survey of its surroundings before landing at a designated site. Once on the surface, it will deploy a range of experiments, including a seismometer, a magnetometer, and an electrodynamic dust shield.
The mission marks a significant milestone in NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon by 2025. With Blue Ghost, Firefly Aerospace is taking a step towards establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.
After its initial landing, Blue Ghost will be followed by other missions, including Mission 2 and yearly Blue Ghost flights. These missions aim to further expand our knowledge of the Moon’s geology, composition, and environment, paving the way for future human exploration.
Source: https://www.astronomy.com/space-exploration/blue-ghost-mission-1-will-send-the-first-us-lander-to-mare-crisium