Insider Brief
- Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $179.6 million contract under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative to deliver and operate a suite of six NASA instruments on the lunar surface.
- The mission, planned for 2028, will focus on the Gruithuisen Domes, a geologically unique area on the Moon’s near side that has not been explored.
- The lunar lander, orbital vehicle, and rover provided by Firefly will investigate the domes’ silica-rich volcanic composition, a feature that may hint at the presence of lunar water and hydrogen.
Firefly Aerospace announced it has been awarded a $179.6 million contract under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative to deliver and operate a suite of six NASA instruments on the lunar surface. The mission, planned for 2028, will focus on the Gruithuisen Domes, a geologically unique area on the Moon’s near side that has not been explored.
The mission will utilize Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander, its Elytra Dark orbital vehicle, and a rover provided by an industry partner. Together, these technologies will investigate the domes’ silica-rich volcanic composition, a feature that may hint at the presence of lunar water and hydrogen.
Mission Overview
Firefly’s Elytra Dark vehicle will deploy the Blue Ghost lander into lunar orbit and remain in orbit to support long-haul communications. Blue Ghost will land in the Gruithuisen Domes, where it will deploy a rover and operate for more than 14 days on the lunar surface. The mission includes notable NASA payloads:
- ROLSES: A telescope for studying photoelectron sheaths on the Moon.
- SAMPLR: A robotic arm for regolith sampling.
- NMLS: An instrument for measuring neutron activity.
- PILS: A photovoltaic research tool.
- Heimdall: A camera system for high-resolution imaging.
Additionally, the mission will deploy NASA’s Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer (Lunar-VISE), which will analyze the composition and physical properties of the Gruithuisen Gamma Dome.
Scientific Goals
The Gruithuisen Domes are considered a geological mystery. Their silica-rich composition suggests volcanic activity that could have occurred in the presence of water. The payloads onboard Blue Ghost will aim to understand the domes’ formation, explore their potential resources, and collect data on the presence of hydrogen and water molecules.
Growing Lunar Opportunities
Firefly Aerospace has positioned itself as a key player in lunar exploration. Jason Kim, Firefly’s CEO, highlighted the company’s track record of successful payload integrations and operational transparency. Brett Alexander, Chief Revenue Officer, emphasized Firefly’s commitment to annual lunar missions for both government and commercial clients.
Firefly’s first lunar mission is scheduled for mid-January 2025, with 10 NASA payloads aboard Blue Ghost. A second mission is planned for 2026, with operations extending to the far side of the Moon.
The 2028 Gruithuisen Domes mission demonstrates Firefly’s expanding capabilities in cislunar operations, offering opportunities for additional commercial payloads alongside NASA’s objectives.
Image credit: Firefly Aerospace
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