SpaceX Successfully Launches Two Private Lunar Landers from the US and Japan
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Synopsis
On January 15, 2023, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, successfully launched two private lunar landers, Blue Ghost and Resilience, from the US and Japan. This significant milestone supports NASA's lunar exploration goals.
Key Takeaways
- SpaceX launched two lunar landers on January 15, 2023.
- Blue Ghost is Firefly’s first lunar mission, part of NASA's CLPS.
- Resilience is ispace's second attempt after a previous crash.
- Both landers carry scientific payloads to study the Moon.
- NASA aims to return astronauts to the Moon under the Artemis Programme.
New Delhi, Jan 15 (NationPress) SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, achieved a significant milestone on Wednesday by successfully launching two private lunar landers from the United States and Japan into space.
The launch included Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost and ispace’s Resilience, which took off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) located on Florida’s Space Coast at 1:11 a.m. EST (11:41 a.m. IST).
In a post on the social media platform X, Firefly expressed excitement, stating, “SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has lifted off from pad 39A in Cape Canaveral and Blue Ghost is on its way to orbit! Go Ghost Riders in the sky! #BGM1 #GhostRiders.”
Blue Ghost represents Firefly's inaugural mission to the moon and is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
In 2023, NASA granted Texas-based Firefly approximately $93.3 million to transport a collection of 10 scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to the Moon.
Currently, Blue Ghost is transporting 10 research and technology payloads from NASA aimed at enhancing the agency's understanding of the lunar environment, in line with its plans to return astronauts to the moon as part of the Artemis Programme.
NASA shared on X, “There it goes: our post-holiday delivery aboard Blue Ghost begins its journey to the Moon!”
Additionally, they noted, “Along with providing insights about the Moon, the data these instruments capture could offer valuable information about how space weather affects Earth.”
On the other hand, Resilience marks ispace’s second lunar endeavor. Their first lander, Hakuto-R, reached lunar orbit in March 2023 but unfortunately crashed during its landing attempt a month later.
While Blue Ghost is anticipated to attempt landing in Mare Crisium (the Sea of Crises) on the northeastern part of the moon's near side in roughly two months, Resilience is set to touch down in Mare Frigoris (the Sea of Cold) in the moon's northern hemisphere, around 4.5 months from now.
Additionally, Intuitive Machines, based in Houston, is planning to launch the IM-2 mission in February, while Astrobotic from Pittsburgh is also preparing for another lunar landing attempt with its Griffin Mission One.
