After 45 days in transit, Blue Ghost is now poised for its crucial lunar landing attempt. The mission involves a series of intricate maneuvers to ensure a safe touchdown on the moon's surface.
One of the key moments to watch for is the 'descent orbit insertion' that will occur 63 minutes before touchdown. This engine burn will set Blue Ghost on a trajectory towards the lunar surface. Following this, the vehicle will enter a 'coast phase' 62 minutes before touchdown, during which its navigation systems will closely monitor its orientation and position relative to the moon.
As the landing approaches, Blue Ghost will ignite all of its thrusters and main engine 11 minutes before touchdown to decelerate from 1.7 kilometers per second to just 40 meters per second. This critical phase aims to ensure a controlled descent and avoid any potential hazards such as craters and rocks.
At 100 seconds before touchdown, Blue Ghost will further slow down to just 1 meter per second using precision thrusters to guide its final descent. The touchdown is scheduled for 2:34 a.m CT (3:34 a.m. ET), with confirmation of a successful landing expected shortly after if all goes smoothly.
Approximately 30 minutes after touchdown, Firefly plans to release the first images captured by Blue Ghost from the lunar surface, providing a glimpse of the historic moment.
