Private spacecraft sends video from the far side of the Moon

From an altitude of about 120 km.

The Blue Ghost spacecraft, developed by Firefly Aerospace as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, has sent stunning footage from the far side of the Moon. It is currently performing a series of maneuvers to lower its orbit in preparation for landing in the Ocean of Storms on March 2.

According to Firefly, the latest orbital correction lasted 3 minutes and 18 seconds and was successful. As a result, Blue Ghost transitioned from an elongated elliptical orbit to a lower one. After the maneuver, the spacecraft captured video of the far side of the Moon from an altitude of about 120 km.

Onboard Blue Ghost are ten scientific and technological instruments from NASA. As part of the mission, scientists plan to study thermal flows from the depths of our satellite, the interaction of emissions with the surface, and the electric and magnetic fields of the crust. The spacecraft will also conduct X-ray observations of Earth's magnetosphere. Technological experiments include testing lunar soil collection systems, radiation-resistant computing, and electrodynamic methods for dust protection.

One of the most spectacular events will be the capture of a total solar eclipse on March 14, when Earth will obscure the Sun above the lunar horizon. On March 16, Blue Ghost will record the sunset of our star to study the horizon glow caused by levitating lunar dust—an effect first noted by astronaut Eugene Cernan during the Apollo 17 mission. Scientists are concerned that charged dust could pose a threat to equipment and even the health of future astronauts.

Currently, Blue Ghost continues to lower its orbit, occasionally losing communication while flying over the far side of the Moon. In the coming days, the Firefly team will conduct final maneuvers before landing, which will be an important step in preparing for future missions to Earth's natural satellite.