In a landmark event for private lunar exploration, two separate moon landers from different companies are set to launch together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in January 2025. Firefly Aerospace (US) and ispace (Japan) will share the ride, showcasing growing international collaboration in lunar missions.
ispace’s “Resilience” lander, an upgraded version of their previous Hakuto-R, aims to land in the Sea of Cold. It will carry five payloads, including experiments focused on water electrolysis, food production, and a microrover to collect lunar soil for NASA.
Firefly’s “Blue Ghost” lander will target the Mare Crisium region. Its mission involves operating for a full lunar day and conducting imaging tasks during lunar dusk. Blue Ghost will carry ten NASA payloads for scientific research and technology demonstrations.
Both landers are expected to take several months to reach the moon after launch, utilizing low-energy trajectories. If successful, they will join the exclusive club of privately-led lunar landings, currently occupied only by Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus.
This joint mission highlights the increasing accessibility of space and the growing interest in lunar exploration from both commercial and scientific perspectives. It promises to be a significant step forward in our understanding of the moon and its potential resources.