SpaceX successfully launched a pair of lunar landers from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in a two-for-one moonshot mission. The landers, one for a Tokyo-based company called ispace and the other for Texas-based Firefly Aerospace, are part of a growing trend of private spacecraft missions to the moon.
ispace, which had a previous lunar lander crash, is back with a new mission featuring a rover equipped with a scoop to collect lunar dirt for analysis. The company also plans to test potential food and water sources on the moon for future exploration.
Firefly Aerospace is carrying out 10 experiments for NASA, including tools to gather dirt, measure subsurface temperature, and protect spacesuits from abrasive lunar particles. Their lander, named Blue Ghost, is set to land at Mare Crisium in early March.
ispace's lander, named Resilience, will take a longer route to reach Mare Frigoris in late May or early June. Both companies emphasize that the mission is not a race, but rather a crucial step in advancing lunar exploration.
Despite the challenges posed by the lunar landscape, both companies are confident in their designs and engineering. Firefly CEO Jason Kim even wore a shamrock for good luck ahead of the launch.
NASA's Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the moon by the end of the decade, and these missions play a vital role in preparing for human exploration. The spacecraft will operate for two weeks in constant daylight upon landing, conducting various experiments and tests.
ispace's rover, weighing 11 pounds, will move in circles near the lander, carrying a toy-size red house designed by a Swedish artist. NASA is funding Firefly's mission with $101 million and the experiments with an additional $44 million.
Intuitive Machines, another U.S.-based company, is set to launch its second moonshot by the end of February, following a successful lunar touchdown last year near the south pole.
