Firefly’s Blue Ghost Makes Historic Lunar Landing, Delivering NASA Science
A New Era of Lunar Exploration Begins
In a significant milestone for commercial space exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 has successfully landed on the Moon. The landing, which occurred at 3:34 a.m. EST on Sunday, marks the second lunar delivery of NASA science and technology instruments as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
The Blue Ghost lander touched down near Mons Latreille, a volcanic feature within Mare Crisium, a vast basin on the Moon’s near side. This achievement is a testament to the growing capabilities of private companies in contributing to lunar exploration and the ambitious goals of NASA’s Artemis campaign.
A Triumph for Firefly and NASA’s CLPS Program
This successful landing is a first for Firefly Aerospace, solidifying their position as a key player in the burgeoning lunar economy. The CLPS initiative, which aims to leverage the expertise of commercial partners to deliver payloads to the Moon, has once again demonstrated its effectiveness.
“This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all,” said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro. “We have already learned many lessons – and the technological and science demonstrations onboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 will improve our ability to not only discover more science, but to ensure the safety of our spacecraft instruments for future human exploration – both in the short term and long term.”
A Treasure Trove of Scientific Instruments
The Blue Ghost lander carries a suite of 10 NASA science and technology instruments, which will operate on the lunar surface for approximately one lunar day, equivalent to about 14 Earth days. These instruments are designed to test and demonstrate various technologies, including:

• Lunar subsurface drilling technology: Exploring the Moon’s subsurface composition.
• Regolith sample collection capabilities: Gathering lunar soil samples for analysis.
• Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) abilities: Demonstrating the use of GNSS for lunar navigation.
• Radiation tolerant computing: Testing the resilience of computing systems in the harsh lunar environment.
• Lunar dust mitigation methods: Studying and mitigating the effects of lunar dust on equipment.
  A Journey of Innovation and Discovery
  The Blue Ghost’s journey to the Moon was a remarkable feat in itself. Since launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15, the lander traveled over 2.8 million miles, downlinked over 27 GB of data, and supported several crucial science operations. Notably, the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment payload successfully tracked signals from the Global Navigation Satellite System at a record-breaking distance of 246,000 miles, proving that Earth-based positioning systems can be utilized at the Moon.
  Furthermore, the mission gathered valuable data on radiation tolerant computing through the Van Allen Belts and measured magnetic field changes in space using the Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder payload.
  Looking Ahead: The Future of Lunar Exploration
  The data collected during the Blue Ghost mission will provide invaluable insights into the lunar environment, paving the way for future human exploration and long-term presence on the Moon.
  “The science and technology we send to the Moon now helps prepare the way for future NASA exploration and long-term human presence to inspire the world for generations to come,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We’re sending these payloads by working with American companies – which supports a growing lunar economy.”
  Before the end of its operational period, the Blue Ghost will capture images of the lunar sunset and study how lunar dust reacts to solar influences during dusk, providing further scientific data.
  With five vendors awarded 11 lunar deliveries under CLPS, and over 50 instruments being sent to various locations on the Moon, including the lunar South Pole, the future of lunar exploration looks brighter than ever. Firefly Aerospace’s successful landing is a significant step towards realizing the vision of a sustained and thriving lunar presence.

NASA News

Haasil-e-zindagi hasratoon key siwa kch nahin Muhsin,

Ye kiya nahin, wo huya nahin, ye mila nahin, wo raha nahin

حاصل زندگی حسرتوں کے سوا کچھ نہیں محسن

یہ کیا نہیں ،وہ ہوا نہیں ،یہ ملا نہیں ،وہ رہا نہیں

Nahin hai rabta phir bhi wo sadqa deti hai,

Usey pata hai mein aksar safar mein rehta hoon

نہیں ہے رابطہ پھر بھی وہ صدقہ دیتی ہے
اسے پتہ ہے میں اکثر سفر میں رہتا ہوں

ملتے گئے ہر موڑ پہ ہمدرد ہزاروں

لگتا ہے اس شہر میں اداکار بہت ہیں

Miltey gaye har mod pey hamdard hazaron,

Lagta hai iss shehr mein adakar bhut hain

یاد خدا کے ساتھ ساتھ ، آتی رہی کسی کی یاد

اور بھی ایک نماز ہم ، پڑھتے رہے نماز میں

Yaad-e-khuda key sath sath,aati rahi kisi ki yaad,

Our bhi aik namaz hum,parhtey rahey namaz mein

سلسلہ فجر تک جا پوہنچا آذان عشا ہ سے

ہم خیال یار میں بیٹھے وضو ہی کرتے رہے

Silsila fajir tak jaa pohncha,aazan-e-issha sey,

Hum khayal yaar mein bethey waazo he kaartey rahey

تمہارا تو بس ہواؤں پہ شق گیا ہوگا

چراغ خود بھی تو جل جل کہ تھک گیا ہوگا

Tumhara to bus hawaon pe shaq gaya hoga,

Charagh khud bhi to jal jal ke thak gaya hoga

یہاں سب کچھ بکتا ہے ذرا سمبھل کر رہنا

لوگ ہواؤں کو بھی بیچ دیتے ہیں غباروں میں بھر کر

Yahan sub kch bikta hai zara sambhal kar rehna,

Log hawaon ko bhi bech detey hain,ghubaron mein bhar kar

Mein aik kirdaar sey bara tang hoon,Qalam kaar,

Mujhey kahani mein daal,Ghussa nikalna hai

میں ایک کردار سے بڑا تنگ ہوں ، قلم کار

مجھے کہانی میں ڈال، غصّہ نکالنا ہے

Laga kar aagh shehr ko ye badshah ney kaha,

Otha hai dil mein tamashey ka aaj shoq bhut,

Jhuka key sar ko sabhi shah parsat bol othey,

Huzor ka shoq salamat rahey,shehr our bhi bhut

لگا کر آگ شہر کو یہ بادشاہ نے کہا

اٹھا ہے دل میں تماشے کا آج شوق بہت

جھکا کے سر کو سبھی شاہ پرست بول اٹھے

حضور کا شوق سلامت رہے ،شہر اور بہت

Merey qalb ko bhi naseeb hoon teri zaat sey wahi nisbatein,

Wo jo azmatein thein owais ki,wo jo raabtey they bilaal

میرے قلب کو بھی نصیب ہوں تیری  ذات سے وہی نسبتیں

وہ جو عظمتیں تھیں اویس کی ، وہ جو رابطے تھے بلال کے

Mein ney seekha hai,riyaazi key aasolon sey,

Jo na mumkin ho ussey farz kar liya jaye

میں نے سیکھا ہے ، ریاضی کے اصولوں سے

جو ناممکن ہو اسے فرض کر لیا جاۓ

Charagh-e-mehfil ban,charagh-e-rahguzar na ban,

Aik yusif ka intekhab kar,har aik ki zulekha na ban

چراغ محفل بن ،چراغ رہگزر نہ بن

ایک یوسف کا انتخاب کر ،ہر ایک کی زلیخہ نہ بن

Kursi hai,tumhara janaza to nahin hai,

Kch kar nahin saktey to utar kyun nahin jaatey

کرسی ہے ،تمہارا جنازہ تو نہیں ہے

کچھ کر نہیں سکتے تو اتر کیوں نہیں جاتے

Dekh rafta rafta ,nikal hi gaye na akhir,

Misir sey yusif, janat sey aadam, our terey dil sey hum

دیکھ رفتہ رفتہ ،نکل ہی گئے نا آخر

مصر سے یوسف ،جنت سے آدم ،اور تیرے دل سے ہم

mukhalfat se meri shaksiyat sanwarti hai

mein tanqeed karne walon ka bara ahtram karta hoon

مخالفت سے میری شخصیت سنورتی ھے
میں تنقید کرنے والوں کا بڑا احترم کرتا ھوں

Samjh jaati hoon chalon ko magar kch der lagti hai,

Wo baazi jeet jaatey hain, merey chalak honey tak

سمجھ جاتی ہوں چالوں کو مگر کچھ دیر لگتی ہے

وہ بازی جیت جاتے ہیں ،میرے چالاک ہونے تک