Firefly Aerospace has become the second U.S. company to achieve a soft moon landing with its debut Blue Ghost lander, marking a significant milestone in the private space sector.
The uncrewed spacecraft touched down on the lunar surface at 3:35 a.m. ET near an ancient volcanic vent on Mare Crisium, a prominent basin on the moon's Earth-facing side.
The Blue Ghost lander, roughly the size of a compact car and equipped with four legs for stability, carried 10 scientific payloads as part of a two-week research mission. Flight controllers at Firefly’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, confirmed via live stream that the lander had successfully entered lunar gravity, with a company official exclaiming, “We’re on the moon.”
Launched a month and a half ago atop a SpaceX rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Blue Ghost descended toward the lunar surface at a measured pace of about two miles per hour. The spacecraft’s precise descent and gentle landing underscore Firefly’s growing capabilities in the competitive arena of lunar exploration.
Firefly Aerospace now joins a select group of private companies in achieving a soft landing on the moon. Last year, Houston-based Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander made a lopsided touchdown, while only five nations – the former Soviet Union, the United States, China, India, and Japan – have historically accomplished such landings.
As Blue Ghost begins its research mission, Firefly’s achievement is seen as a step forward in the global race to explore and utilize the moon, opening up new opportunities for scientific discovery and commercial ventures in space.
Dan Pettit, America’s oldest active astronaut, has returned to Earth on his 70th birthday after completing his fourth mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday for the International Space Station (ISS), Russia's Roscosmos space agency said.
China has successfully launched a new satellite, Tianping-3A 02, into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the launch of a replacement crew meant to return stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth from the International Space Station.
Pakistan has restored access to X months after imposing a ban following its controversial February 2024 general elections, despite earlier claims that the platform posed a national security threat.
Slovakia has rejected the European Commission's proposal to phase out Russian gas and other energy imports by the end of 2027. Prime Minister Robert Fico called the plan "unacceptable" in its current form, warning it would raise energy prices across the EU and hurt its economic competitiveness.
Moscow airports are experiencing major flight disruptions due to ongoing Ukrainian drone threats ahead of Russia's 9 May Victory Day celebrations.
India launched airstrikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir after a deadly attack in Indian Kashmir killed 26 Hindu tourists, sparking the worst military clash in decades. Pakistan called it an "act of war" and claimed to have downed five Indian jets.
Yann Sommer’s dramatic extra-time save helped Inter Milan defeat Barcelona 4-3 and book a place in the Champions League final, drawing comparisons to club legend Julio Cesar's iconic save in 2010.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has announced the upcoming release of a documentary film about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
ChatGPT has rapidly emerged as one of the most influential artificial intelligence tools, transforming how we interact with technology through natural language.
Discover every major VE Day 80 event in Britain, 5‑8 May 2025—from London’s parade and fly‑past to street parties, concerts and museum exhibitions.
New Tesla registrations in Denmark collapsed 67 % in April to 180 vehicles, industry data showed Thursday, underscoring a sharp demand drop for the EV maker in one of its once-strong European markets.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted SpaceX regulatory approval to significantly increase the number of Starship rocket launches from its Texas facility, marking a major step forward in the company's efforts to develop its next-generation Mars rocket.
Scientists in the UK have developed a super-strong antibody that could dramatically improve how the immune system attacks cancer cells by boosting its activation power.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a €500 million incentive package to enhance scientific research in Europe and attract leading researchers, particularly those from the U.S.
OpenAI announced Monday that it will retain its nonprofit governance structure while proceeding with a major restructuring of its for-profit subsidiary to enable greater capital-raising capacity amid intensifying competition in the artificial intelligence sector.
Fans of Rockstar Games' iconic franchise will need to exercise more patience, as the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI has officially been delayed again—this time until May 26, 2026.
Pakistan has restored access to X months after imposing a ban following its controversial February 2024 general elections, despite earlier claims that the platform posed a national security threat.
Slovakia has rejected the European Commission's proposal to phase out Russian gas and other energy imports by the end of 2027. Prime Minister Robert Fico called the plan "unacceptable" in its current form, warning it would raise energy prices across the EU and hurt its economic competitiveness.
Moscow airports are experiencing major flight disruptions due to ongoing Ukrainian drone threats ahead of Russia's 9 May Victory Day celebrations.
India launched airstrikes on Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir after a deadly attack in Indian Kashmir killed 26 Hindu tourists, sparking the worst military clash in decades. Pakistan called it an "act of war" and claimed to have downed five Indian jets.
Yann Sommer’s dramatic extra-time save helped Inter Milan defeat Barcelona 4-3 and book a place in the Champions League final, drawing comparisons to club legend Julio Cesar's iconic save in 2010.
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