Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lander witnesses stunning sunrise on the Moon, shares captivating view

Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lander Captures First Sunrise on Moon. (Image: Firefly Aerospace)

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has awakened to its first sunrise on the Moon. The company shared an image of the bright Sun shining over its landing site. This marks the start of a crucial 14-day period for scientific experiments on the lunar surface.

Blue Ghost carries ten NASA payloads to test various technologies. These include drilling equipment, regolith sampling tools, satellite navigation systems, and radiation-tolerant computing. The lander will also study lunar dust behaviour, a challenge for future missions.

Firefly Aerospace posted on X, “Rise and shine! Blue Ghost captured its first sunrise on the Moon, beginning its lunar day and surface operations.” The lander touched down at 2:06 pm IST on March 2. It landed in Mons Latreille, a volcanic area within Mare Crisium. This successful landing made Firefly the first private company to complete a Moon mission without issues.

Rise and shine! Fireflys #BlueGhost lander captured its first sunrise on the Moon, marking the beginning of the lunar day and the start of surface operations in its new home. Our #GhostRiders have already begun operating many of the 10 @NASA payloads aboard the lander and will pic.twitter.com/YI9nuFZfmk

Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 3, 2025

Observing a Lunar Eclipse

Over the next two weeks, Blue Ghost will carry out additional tasks. On March 14, it will observe an eclipse from the lunar surface. Cameras on board will capture high-definition images of Earth blocking the Sun.

Blue Ghosts shadow seen on the Moons surface! Well continue to share images and updates throughout our surface operations. #BGM1pic.twitter.com/iP7fWOSths Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 2, 2025

The lander will also study levitating lunar dust, a phenomenon first seen by Apollo 17 astronaut Eugene Cernan. This observation on March 16 will help scientists understand how sunlight affects lunar dust and creates a glowing horizon.

Just in, our #GhostRiders downlinked another incredible Moon shot following a successful touchdown! Image shows the Moon's surface and Earth on the horizon. Blue Ghost's solar panel, X-band antenna (left), and LEXI payload (right) are also in view. #BGM1pic.twitter.com/UIMB0ON3k3

Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 2, 2025

As the Sun sets, temperatures will drop below -133°C. Blue Ghost is designed to operate for several hours into the lunar night before powering down.