NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has found and imaged the Blue Ghost landing module from Firefly Aerospace, which successfully landed on the surface of the Moon last week. This photo was an impressive example of the capabilities of modern orbital technology, despite the fact that the vehicle in the image occupies only one pixel!
Earth of lights and shadows
Blue Ghost landed near Mare Crisium, an ancient impact crater formed millions of years ago. The module’s journey from Earth to the Moon lasted 45 days, and its landing took place on March 2, 2025. Then the LRO, 175 kilometers east of that point, took a historic shot with its on-board cameras.
In the image released by NASA, the landing module looks like a tiny white spot with a shadow — a single pixel among the lunar landscape. The bottom of the Mons Latreille can be seen nearby, which adds to the drama of the shot. “It reminds us how difficult it is to ‘hunt’ for objects from orbit,” NASA ironized.
The importance of the Blue Ghost mission
The project is part of NASA’s CLPS initiative, which engages private companies in lunar exploration. The module delivered 10 scientific instruments to study regolith (lunar soil), collect samples and test technologies for future missions. All of this can be tracked online through Firefly resources.
After a successful landing, the spacecraft deployed equipment and began operations. For the next two weeks (the duration of one day on the Moon), it will analyze the surface, photograph it, and prepare data for scientists. This information should be the key to establishing permanent bases on the Moon.
Photography is a window to the future
Although the module image seems inconspicuous, it symbolizes a new era: private companies like Firefly become full participants in space exploration. Every pixel in the photo is a step toward unraveling the mysteries of our moon and future expeditions with humans.
“Mare Crisium is now more than just a geological trace of the past — it’s a window into the future of lunar colonization. And though Blue Ghost is hard to spot, it’s already writing new pages of space history.
Earlier we reported on how the most famous image of Earth from space was taken.
According to gizmodo.com
