NASA has chosen Firefly Aerospace to undertake a significant lunar mission, scheduled for launch in 2028, aiming to explore the Gruithuisen Domes on the moon’s near side.
The announcement, made on December 18, detailed NASA’s award of a task order to Firefly Aerospace through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The mission will leverage Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander to deliver six payloads, including a rover, for a comprehensive scientific investigation.
The task order, amounting to $179.6 million, aims to explore the Gruithuisen Domes, a region characterized by rocks that resemble granite. The mystery of these formations lies in their composition, created in environments apparently devoid of plate tectonics and water. Understanding the processes behind the formation of these domes could answer pivotal questions about lunar geology.
Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, emphasized the significance of this mission. He noted that the investigation into the Gruithuisen Domes and the surrounding ancient lava flows is expected to offer insights into the lunar surface’s history.
Firefly’s mission is part of a larger strategy by NASA to utilize commercial partners, as evidenced by the size of this contract, which ranks as one of the largest within the CLPS program. It trails only behind the award for Astrobotic’s Griffin lander, which was initially valued at $199.5 million but has since grown beyond $300 million.
The upcoming mission is not an isolated event. It is the second of two major CLPS task orders announced this year, following a gap to refine strategies based on the outcomes of earlier missions by Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines. A separate order has also been given to Intuitive Machines for the IM-4 mission targeting the lunar south pole in 2027 and to Blue Origin for a 2025 mission.
Firefly’s involvement with NASA isn’t new. This marks the fourth CLPS order for the company, including three involving lunar landers. In addition to the upcoming mission, Firefly’s Blue Ghost 1 is set to launch in mid-January, aiming for a landing in the Mare Crisium region after approximately 45 days in transit.
CEO Jason Kim expressed confidence in the progressive enhancement of their technology. ‘We have a production line for these landers,’ he stated, highlighting the iterative learning process between each mission, which informs improvements from Blue Ghost 1 to its successors.
Firefly Aerospace’s collaboration with NASA for the forthcoming lunar mission underscores a milestone in commercial space exploration. By investigating the enigmatic Gruithuisen Domes, the mission promises to shed light on lunar mysteries and advance our understanding of the moon’s geology, marking a significant step forward in space exploration initiatives.
Source: Spacenews
