Watch: Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lander en route to Moon captures breathtaking lunar eclipse from space

Check out Blue Ghost's amazing view of Earth eclipsing the Moon as the lander travels on orbit. (Image: @Firefly_Space/X)

A tiny spacecraft is making big waves in space. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander is heading to the moon but has already captured a rare celestial moment—a tiny lunar eclipse. As the lander orbits Earth, it has been sending back stunning images, including one where our planet briefly eclipses the distant moon.

Mission Progress and Lunar Plans
Blue Ghost launched on 15 January aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Since then, it has remained in Earth’s orbit, undergoing system checks before its key engine burn. This manoeuvre will push it towards the moon on a four-day journey.

I spy with my little lander, a Moon in the distance. Check out Blue Ghost's amazing view of Earth eclipsing the Moon as the lander travels on orbit. Our #GhostRiders can't wait to share more postcard worthy moments as we continue on our roadtrip. #BGM1 pic.twitter.com/OUGfHgSPLC
Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) January 31, 2025

The lander is carrying 10 NASA research payloads, which will study the lunar environment. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme, which aims to support future Artemis moon missions. Blue Ghost is set to land in Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) on the moon’s near side.

Blue Ghost and Resilience: Two Paths to the Moon
Blue Ghost was not the only lunar lander on the Falcon 9 rocket. Another lander, Resilience, built by the Japanese company ispace, was also onboard. However, the two have very different timelines.

Resilience is taking a slower route and aims to land in Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) in about four months. It also carries a mini-rover, Tenacious, which will collect moon dust for NASA. Meanwhile, Blue Ghost will attempt its landing in about a month and will operate on the surface for a full lunar day—around two weeks.

Final Moments of the Mission
Once its scientific tasks are complete, Blue Ghost will shut down as the lunar night begins. Just before it powers off, it will capture a final sunset on the moon. Scientists hope to observe a rare phenomenon last seen during Apollo 17, where magnetic forces cause moon dust to shift as the sun disappears.

Firefly Aerospace’s first moon mission is already delivering stunning space images, and its journey is far from over. The world now waits to see if Blue Ghost can successfully land and complete its scientific goals.