Three lunar landers are currently en route to the moon, marking a significant development in the modern moon race. Alongside Firefly's Blue Ghost, two other spacecraft, Resilience and Athena, are making their way towards their lunar destinations.
Resilience, developed by Japan-based Ispace, is on a mission to redeem itself following a failed landing attempt in 2023. The spacecraft, guided by the motto 'Never Quit the Lunar Quest,' is taking a slower trajectory compared to Blue Ghost and is expected to land in the spring. Ispace has set its sights on Mare Frigoris, a 750-mile-long plain located in the moon's far northern region.
On the other hand, Athena, created by Houston-based Intuitive Machines, achieved a significant milestone last year by completing a successful soft touchdown on the moon with its Odysseus lander. Packed with various scientific instruments, Athena is set to land closer to the moon's south pole than any previous human or robotic mission. The south pole is of particular interest in the moon race due to the presence of water ice, which could potentially be utilized for various purposes such as producing drinking water, breathable air, and even rocket fuel.
