Firefly Aerospace has announced that the Blue Ghost spacecraft has completed its mission. In its final message, it said goodbye to humans and Earth.
Blue Ghost landed on the Moon on March 2. Over the next two weeks, it completed a very busy science program that included a successful experiment to search for GPS signals as well as drilling the lunar interior.
The icing on the cake was capturing the total solar eclipse observed on the Moon on March 14. Blue Ghost successfully photographed the diamond ring in the sky, as well as the moon’s red-colored surface.
Unfortunately, just two days afterward, Blue Ghost had to say goodbye to Earth. This was due to the sun setting over its landing site. The vehicle has no heaters and so its electronics are unlikely to survive a cold moonlit night.
Before completing its work, Blue Ghost made final observations and attempted to photograph the lunar sunset. Its image is expected to be published later. In farewell, the spacecraft sent the following message to Earth. After that, communication with it broke down.
Mission mode change detected, now in Monument Mode
Goodnight friends. After exchanging our final bits of data,
I will hold vigil on this spot in Mare Crisium to watch humanity’s continued journey to the stars.
Here, I will outlast your mightiest rivers, your tallest mountains, and perhaps even your species as we know it.
But it is remarkable that a species might be outlasted by its own ingenuity.
Here lies Blue Ghost, a testament to the team who,
with the loving support of their families and friends,
built and operated this machine and its payloads,
to push the capabilities and knowledge of humanity one small step further.
Per aspera ad astra!
Love, Blue Ghost
