A young company from Texas, Firefly Aerospace, has recently made headlines for securing its third contract with NASA to deliver a payload to the Moon. Founded by Ukrainian businessman Maxim Polyakov, Firefly has come a long way, especially after Polyakov sold the company for just $1 due to government regulations. This new contract with NASA is a significant milestone as it is the second most expensive private contract NASA has ever signed.
What Makes This Mission Historic?
The mission Firefly is taking on will be historic, as it will help NASA collect images from the far side of the Moon, a region that has yet to be explored in detail. To carry out this mission, Firefly will use a new lunar lander called the Blue Ghost 3. This mission has a hefty price tag of $179.6 million. For context, the only other private company to receive a contract of this size was Astrobotic, a company that has been struggling with its own mission. Astrobotic’s Griffin lander was intended to deliver NASA’s VIPER lunar rover, but the company failed to meet its goals, and the rover’s launch was ultimately canceled. This opens up an opportunity for Firefly to become the first private company to successfully complete such a large contract with NASA.
For more on the history of NASA’s contracts with private companies, visit SpaceNews.
Firefly’s Upcoming Missions
Firefly is about to launch its first mission for NASA very soon. In just a month or so, the company will send the Blue Ghost 1 lander to the Moon. Initially, NASA had given this contract to the Israeli company SpaceIL, but after their Beresheet lander crashed on the Moon in 2019, NASA switched to Firefly.
The Blue Ghost 1 mission is expected to land on the Mare Crisium region on the visible side of the Moon in early 2025. If successful, the next mission, Blue Ghost 2, will launch in 2026 and will target the far side of the Moon.
What’s Next for Firefly’s Moon Missions?
Looking ahead, Firefly plans to send the Blue Ghost 3 lander to the far side of the Moon in 2028. This mission will not only deliver a payload from NASA but also capture images of the landing site in the Mons Gruithuisen domes, a mysterious area on the Moon. The lander will also be the first to deliver a lunar rover made by a private company, as Astrobotic’s plans failed. The rover’s manufacturer has not yet been revealed, but it’s expected to be another private company.
This mission marks a major step in private space exploration. Firefly’s success could pave the way for more companies to help NASA explore and study the Moon. If successful, Firefly could help further our understanding of the Moon’s surface, especially the parts that remain shrouded in mystery.
To learn more about private companies working with NASA, visit SpaceNews.
Conclusion
Firefly Aerospace’s upcoming missions to the Moon are an exciting development for the space industry. With the Blue Ghost 1 lander set to launch soon, and plans for Blue Ghost 2 and Blue Ghost 3, Firefly is on track to become a key player in lunar exploration. If all goes according to plan, the company will not only deliver payloads but also help collect important images and data from the Moon’s far side. This mission could open new doors for future private space missions.
Stay updated on Firefly’s progress by following space news from reliable sources like SpaceNews.