While Intuitive Machines’ Athena flipped on its side during landing and shut down permanently, its “colleague” Blue Ghost from Firefly Aerospace was more fortunate, and after a soft landing has already started the active research phase. Landing at Mare Crisium, a large-scale crater on the near side of the Moon, it has already transmitted spectacular images of the sunrise and begun the LISTER experiment. Its goal is to investigate heat flow from the lunar interior by drilling the surface to a depth of up to 3 meters.
The project, developed by NASA in collaboration with Texas Tech University and Honeybee Robotics, should help recreate the moon’s thermal evolution. “By analyzing data from different locations, we will be able to trace how the moon has been cooling for billions of years,” explains study leader Seiichi Nagihara. This information will be key to future Artemis missions and the establishment of permanent bases.
GO LISTER! This @NASA payload, developed by @TexasTech and @HB_Robotics, began drilling into the surface shortly after landing to determine the heat flow from the interior of the Moon. Get the latest #BGM1 updates here: https://t.co/ju2QMaax5R pic.twitter.com/lxLN863nrl
— Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) March 10, 2025
The published video shows a robotic drill cutting through regolith, scattering debris. Interestingly, sparks can be seen during the drilling process due to the electrically charged lunar surface. Although drilling on the Moon dates back to the days of Apollo 15, modern technology is breaking new ground. Every 50 cm, the probe measures the thermal conductivity of the medium, which will create a detailed map of the subsurface.
The beginning of productive work on the Moon
In addition to LISTER, Blue Ghost has nine other experiments to conduct. These include dust control technology using electric fields and research into the adhesion of regolith to various materials. These innovations are critical for long-duration missions, because lunar dust not only damages equipment but also poses a health risk to astronauts.
Despite the extreme conditions – from midday heat to freezing nights – the machine continues to work. According to Firefly, after a brief pause for a “breather” during an afternoon on the Moon, when Blue Ghost experienced extreme heat, the spacecraft has now cooled down and is ready for new discoveries. Its data will become the basis not only for scientific publications, but also for practical solutions in humanity’s space expansion.
This mission is just the first step in the massive Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, where private companies partner with NASA to deliver cargo to the Moon. Each success, as well as each failure, brings humanity closer to the moment when astronauts will once again set foot on the surface of the moon – this time to stay there.
Earlier we reported on how the LRO spacecraft discerned the Blue Ghost landing module on the surface of the Moon.
According to Space
