Moon mystery unveiled: Private lander sends stunning sunset data
Thanks to pioneering materials from the private lander Blue Ghost, scientists may finally be able to explain the phenomenon of the "horizon glow" and the mechanism of "dust levitation" on the surface of the Moon. The spacecraft has successfully completed its mission and transmitted 119 GB of data back to Earth.
The historic return of humans to the Moon is drawing nearer. NASA continues its scientific research following the successful completion of Firefly Aerospace's first lunar mission. The private lander Blue Ghost, owned by Firefly Aerospace in the USA, captured astonishing high-definition images of the sunset on the Moon at the end of its first two-month mission. NASA hopes these images will help solve the mystery of the enigmatic "haze" first observed on the Moon in the 1960s.
The end of Blue Ghost's adventures on the Moon
The private lander Blue Ghost, which departed from Earth on January 15, remained on the Silver Globe from March 2 to March 16, delivering 10 NASA scientific and technological instruments to the Mare Crisium basin on the northeastern near side of the Moon. Firefly Aerospace became the first private company to land a robotic spacecraft vertically on the Moon.
During the mission, Blue Ghost recorded several images and videos, including new shots of Earth, a total solar eclipse on March 14, and the sunset from the lunar surface. The mission lasted about 14 days, equivalent to one lunar day, and concluded a few hours into the lunar night. The data provided by Blue Ghost will aid in the preparation of planned human missions. Its mission concluded on March 16 when it powered down as the lunar night began. The sunset images from the Moon were published on March 17.
Venus also clearly visible
The new sunset images shared by Firefly on X show the Sun shining just above the horizon, accompanied by a green glow. Above, a small dot representing Venus is visible, while the bright reflection of Earth appears almost as large as the Sun at the top of the frame. Another view shows the setting Sun surrounded by a green glow, captured by a camera facing west.
Joel Kearns, Deputy Administrator for Exploration in NASA's Science Mission Directorate, explained that scientific specialists are diligently analyzing all the images. One of the objectives is to identify the "horizon glow" phenomenon or the mechanism known as "dust levitation."
Scientists suspect that lunar dust particles may become electrified due to the Sun's ultraviolet radiation, causing them to levitate above the surface. This phenomenon was first noted by NASA's Surveyor probes in the 1960s and was later observed by Apollo mission astronauts.
Moon dust particles are lifted by radiation
Kearns noted that scientists will compare these images with additional readings from Blue Ghost's instruments, including electromagnetic field and radiation sensors, to refine existing theories. He added that the level of detail in the images taken by the private lander may help scientists improve models of light scattering on the Moon's surface.
NASA has already begun analyzing 119 GB of data from the Moon
All 10 NASA payloads were successfully activated, collected data, and conducted operations on the Moon. During the mission, Blue Ghost transmitted 119 gigabytes of data to Earth, including 51 gigabytes of scientific and technological data. Additionally, all payloads had the capability to conduct research and collect data for analysis, including during the eclipse and sunset on the Moon.
Nicky Fox from NASA's Science Mission Directorate emphasized in a statement that the Blue Ghost Mission 1 was the longest commercial mission on the Moon's surface so far, collecting extraordinary scientific data that will serve humanity for decades.
Joel Kearns of NASA noted that operating on the Moon is complex, and carrying 10 payloads, a record for this commercial delivery initiative, makes the mission even more impressive. Teams are eagerly analyzing their data and are extremely excited about the expected scientific discoveries.
There will be more Blue Ghost missions
Ray Allensworth, Space Flight Program Director at Firefly Aerospace, reported that the company is already applying the experience gained to future flights, including Blue Ghost-2 and Blue Ghost-3. He added that the Blue Ghost-1 lander, which has now completed its mission, was not designed to survive the extreme cold of the lunar night, so the likelihood of restarting it is very low.
The mission was part of NASA's collaboration with industry to reduce costs and support the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and use the experiences gained there for journeys to Mars.
