“Blue Marble”: Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lander Captured Stunning Earth Photos

Firefly Aerospace‘s Blue Ghost lander, a private spacecraft commissioned by NASA to deliver experiments to the Moon, is currently orbiting Earth as it prepares for its maiden lunar landing. During its journey, the uncrewed lander captured a breathtaking image of our planet, giving us a fresh view of the famous “Blue Marble” from space.

Fresh Perspective Of Our Planet

The lander snapped this image during its second engine burn — a critical step needed to reach the Moon, about 239,000 miles away.

“Blue Ghost, meet Blue Marble!” Firefly Aerospace wrote on X.

Earth Orbiting Sun: Postcard From Blue Ghost Lander

Another stunning video from the moon lander’s journey showcases Earth eclipsing the Sun as seen from the spacecraft’s top deck. Firefly Aerospace described this breathtaking moment as “another incredible postcard” from the Moon-bound mission.

The image below represents one of the many on-orbit shots from the Ghost Riders mission.

Moon Lander Engines’ Amazing Progress

Firefly also shared a captivating video of the engines firing with invisible plumes in the vacuum of space, showcasing the impressive progress of the Ghost Riders mission.

What’s Next For The Blue Ghost?

On 15th January, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lunar Lander launched into space, carrying 10 experiments for NASA. This mission is part of the agency’s goal to establish a steady schedule of lunar missions, paving the way for astronaut-led Artemis expeditions planned for 2027 or later.

The spacecraft will continue orbiting Earth for two more weeks before performing its Trans Lunar Injection, the manoeuvre that will send it on course to the Moon.

After Blue Ghost sets off on its path to the Moon, it will take four days to reach its destination. Once there, the spacecraft will spend 16 days orbiting the Moon before beginning its descent. The landing is scheduled for 2 March.