A roundabout journey takes two private lunar landers toward the moon

Published by Pratik Patil on

In an ambitious dual mission, SpaceX launched two lunar landers early Wednesday, marking a bold step for U.S. and Japanese private companies aiming to expand their reach to the moon. The spacecraft lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center during the early hours, part of a growing wave of private missions targeting Earth’s celestial neighbor. To cut costs, the two landers shared a ride, embarking on separate, circuitous journeys expected to take several months.

For Tokyo-based ispace, this marks a critical second attempt after its first lander failed to achieve a successful touchdown two years ago. The new lander, named Resilience, carries a rover equipped to collect lunar soil for scientific analysis and test resources like potential food and water for future explorers. Meanwhile, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace is debuting its lunar lander, Blue Ghost, which carries 10 NASA-sponsored experiments. These include a vacuum for soil collection, a drill to measure subsurface temperatures, and a device designed to protect future moonwalkers from the sharp, abrasive lunar dust.

Firefly’s Blue Ghost, a 2-meter-tall lander named after a firefly species from the southeastern U.S., is expected to land first. It aims for an early March touchdown at Mare Crisium, a volcanic plain on the moon’s northern side. Resilience, slightly larger, is slated to land later, targeting a May or June arrival at Mare Frigoris, even farther north on the lunar surface.

Despite the challenges of landing on the moon—a feat achieved by only five nations since the 1960s—both companies are optimistic. Firefly CEO Jason Kim acknowledged the risks but noted meticulous preparation, even pinning an Irish shamrock to his lapel for extra luck. Ispace founder Takeshi Hakamada emphasized that the mission isn’t a race but a significant stride in lunar exploration.

NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon by the decade’s end, relies on missions like these to test technologies and conduct scientific research. Once on the lunar surface, both landers will operate for two weeks in constant daylight before shutting down as night falls. Ispace’s rover will conduct limited travel near its lander, carrying a Swedish artist’s toy-sized red house as part of its payload.

NASA invested $101 million in Firefly’s mission and $44 million for its experiments, while ispace kept its costs below its inaugural mission, which exceeded $100 million.