Dual Robotic Lunar Landers Embark on Scientific Missions to the Moon

Two Robotic Landers Launched to the Moon

Two robotic lunar landers, one American and one Japanese, embarked on a journey to the moon on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. The landers, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, will take different paths to the lunar surface, carrying out various scientific missions.

Built by Firefly Aerospace, based in Austin, Texas.

Carries 10 sophisticated instruments for NASA.

Will spend 25 days in Earth orbit before heading to the moon.

Will land near the center of Mare Crisium, the Sea of Crisis.

Will collect data on the lunar dust environment, drill into the soil, and monitor background X-ray emissions.

Built by ispace, headquartered in Tokyo.

Carries four instruments and a small microrover named "Tenacious."

Will take a low-energy fuel-saving trajectory to the moon.

Will attempt to land at Mare Frigoris, the Sea of Cold.

Will carry out experiments related to lunar infrastructure, food production, and art installations.

Both missions are privately funded, demonstrating the growing role of private companies in space exploration.

The Blue Ghost mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which aims to encourage private industry to develop lunar landers and deliver scientific payloads to the moon.

The data collected by both landers will be crucial for future lunar exploration, including the Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the moon's south pole later this decade.

The Blue Ghost mission will last about two months.

The Resilience mission is privately funded, while the instruments aboard Blue Ghost were developed with $44 million from NASA.

The CLPS program has awarded 11 lunar deliveries to five vendors, with a total contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028.