Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has played a key role in the successful Moon landing of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1, which touched down on March 2 at 8:34 a.m. UTC (3:34 a.m. ET). The mission relied on Rocket Lab's MAX Flight and MAX Ground Data Software suites to enable precise navigation, control, and telemetry throughout its descent and landing phases.
The Blue Ghost 1 by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 04, 2025
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has played a key role in the successful Moon landing of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1, which touched down on March 2 at 8:34 a.m. UTC (3:34 a.m. ET). The mission relied on Rocket Lab's MAX Flight and MAX Ground Data Software suites to enable precise navigation, control, and telemetry throughout its descent and landing phases.
The Blue Ghost 1 lander's performance was bolstered by Rocket Lab's advanced software, which provides critical functions such as commanding, telemetry processing, autonomous sequencing, attitude determination, guidance, navigation, control, and fault protection. These capabilities ensured mission success across all operational phases, from launch to lunar touchdown.
Rocket Lab's Mission Operations Center in Littleton, Colorado, operated as a remote and backup control hub for Firefly's primary operations base in Texas. Throughout the mission, Rocket Lab's spacecraft operations team collaborated closely with Firefly's Blue Ghost operations team in both Colorado and Texas. Their responsibilities included orbit determination, maneuver planning, command generation, and continuous monitoring of the lander's guidance, navigation, and control systems to ensure a smooth journey and landing.
In addition to software support, Rocket Lab contributed three high-efficiency solar power assemblies, mounted on the lander's sides and top deck. These systems provided a total of 400 W of power, sustaining operations for the mission's 1,470-hour duration.
"Congratulations to the Firefly team for the successful landing of the Blue Ghost 1 mission, a remarkable accomplishment achieved by few," said Kyle Andringa, Rocket Lab's Senior Director Space Systems Software. "Rocket Lab is honored to support this mission with our flight-proven space software and state-of-the-art components."
Firefly's Blue Ghost mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, aimed at advancing lunar exploration and scientific research by delivering cutting-edge instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon.
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