NASA’s Blue Ghost lunar lander has successfully entered into orbit around the moon, marking a major milestone in its mission. The lander, which was launched on January 15 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is now preparing to make its landing next month.
After conducting various calibrations and tests, including an eclipse where the Earth passed in front of the sun, Blue Ghost has been busy executing engine burns to adjust its orbit. The lander has also captured stunning photographs of the moon and its surroundings, providing valuable insights into the lunar environment.
The mission, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, is part of NASA’s Resilience program, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2025. Blue Ghost will spend two weeks in lunar orbit before landing at the Atlas crater in Mare Frigoris, where it will establish a connection with another NASA lander, Tenacious.
Tenacious, a small but mighty rover, is designed to conduct food production experiments, detect radiation, and collect regolith samples. The rover was launched by Japanese company ispace and measures just 10 inches tall and weighs 5 pounds.
Blue Ghost is equipped with 15 payloads, including instruments for studying the lunar subsurface, magnetism, and the effects of space on materials. These payloads will provide valuable insights into the moon’s environment and help scientists better understand its history.
With preparations complete, Blue Ghost is now poised to embark on its historic landing mission. The expected landing date is March 2, marking a major step forward in NASA’s plans for lunar exploration.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/blue-ghost-lunar-lander-now-221200501.html