Firefly Aerospace Receives $10 Million NASA Contract Addendum for Blue Ghost Mission 1 Lunar Data
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) has secured a $10 million contract addendum from NASA for additional data from its successful Blue Ghost Mission 1 lunar mission. The company collected 120 gigabytes of data during the mission, which operated longer than any commercial lunar mission to date.
The data includes first-ever high-definition images of a solar eclipse and sunset from the Moon's surface, communications data from S-band and X-band antennas, propulsion data from Spectre thrusters, and temperature data during extreme conditions ranging from 230°F to -275°F. The mission successfully operated through a 500°F temperature delta and demonstrated innovative solutions like 'operation parasol' to manage thermal challenges.
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) ha ottenuto dalla NASA un contratto addizionale da 10 milioni di dollari per dati aggiuntivi relativi alla riuscita missione lunare Blue Ghost Mission 1. L’azienda ha raccolto 120 gigabyte di dati durante la missione, che è durata più a lungo di qualsiasi missione lunare commerciale finora.
I dati includono le prime immagini in alta definizione di un’eclissi solare e di un tramonto dalla superficie della Luna, dati di comunicazione provenienti dalle antenne S-band e X-band, dati di propulsione dai thruster Spectre e dati di temperatura in condizioni estreme comprese tra 230°F e -275°F. La missione ha operato con successo attraverso una variazione di temperatura di 500°F e ha dimostrato soluzioni innovative come 'operation parasol' per gestire le sfide termiche.
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) ha asegurado a la NASA un acuerdo adicional de 10 millones de dólares para obtener datos adicionales de su exitosa misión lunar Blue Ghost Mission 1. La empresa recopiló 120 gigabytes de datos durante la misión, que funcionó más tiempo que cualquier misión lunar comercial hasta la fecha.
Los datos incluyen las primeras imágenes en alta definición de un eclipse solar y de la puesta de sol desde la superficie de la Luna, datos de comunicaciones de antenas S-band y X-band, datos de propulsión de los propulsores Spectre y datos de temperatura en condiciones extremas entre 230°F y -275°F. La misión operó con éxito a través de un delta de temperatura de 500°F y demostró soluciones innovadoras como 'operation parasol' para gestionar los desafíos térmicos.
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY)가 NASA로부터 천만 달러의 계약 추가 조항을 확보하여 성공적인 Blue Ghost Mission 1 달 탐사 임무의 추가 데이터를 받게 되었습니다. 이 회사는 임무 중 120기가바이트의 데이터를 수집했으며, 이는 지금까지의 어떤 상업적 달 탐사 임무보다 더 오랜 기간 작동했습니다.
데이터에는 달 표면에서의 일식과 일몰의 최초 고화질 이미지, S-band 및 X-band 안테나의 통신 데이터, Spectre 엔진의 추진 데이터, 그리고 230°F에서 -275°F까지의 극한 조건에서의 온도 데이터가 포함됩니다. 이 임무는 500°F의 온도 차를 견디며 성공적으로 작동했고 열 관리 문제를 해결하기 위한 'operation parasol' 같은 혁신적 솔루션을 시연했습니다.
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) a obtenu de la NASA un ajout de contrat de 10 millions de dollars pour des données supplémentaires issues de sa mission lunaire réussie Blue Ghost Mission 1. L’entreprise a collecté 120 gigaoctets de données pendant la mission, qui a duré plus longtemps que toute autre mission lunaire commerciale à ce jour.
Les données incluent les premières images en haute définition d’un eclipse solaire et d’un coucher de soleil depuis la surface de la Lune, des données de communication des antennes S-band et X-band, des données de propulsion des propulseurs Spectre et des données de température dans des conditions extrêmes allant de 230°F à -275°F. La mission a fonctionné avec succès à travers un delta de température de 500°F et a démontré des solutions innovantes comme « operation parasol » pour gérer les défis thermiques.
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) hat von der NASA ein Zusatzvertrag über 10 Millionen USD für weitere Daten aus der erfolgreichen Blue Ghost Mission 1 Mondmission erhalten. Das Unternehmen sammelte während der Mission 120 Gigabyte an Daten, die länger betrieben wurde als jede bisherige kommerzielle Mondmission.
Die Daten umfassen erstmals hochauflösende Bilder einer Sonnenfinsternis und eines Monduntergangs von der Mondoberfläche, Kommunikationsdaten von S- und X-Band-Antennen, Triebwerksdaten der Spectre-Triebwerke sowie Temperaturdaten unter extremen Bedingungen von 230°F bis -275°F. Die Mission arbeitete erfolgreich durch eine Temperaturdifferenz von 500°F und zeigte innovative Lösungen wie ‚operation parasol‘ zur Bewältigung thermischer Herausforderungen.
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) قد أمنت من ناسا عقداً إضافياً بقيمة 10 ملايين دولار للحصول على بيانات إضافية من مهمة Blue Ghost Mission 1 القمرية الناجحة. جمعت الشركة 120 جيجابايت من البيانات خلال المهمة، التي استمرت لفترة أطول من أي مهمة قمرية تجارية حتى الآن.
تشمل البيانات أول صور عالية الدقة لكسوف شمسي وغروب الشمس من سطح القمر، وبيانات الاتصالات من هوائيات S-band وX-band، وبيانات الدفع من محركات Spectre، وبيانات درجة الحرارة في ظروف قصوى تتراوح من 230°F إلى -275°F. وقد أُجريت المهمة بنجاح عبر فرق درجة حرارة قدره 500°F وأظهرت حلولاً مبتكرة مثل 'operation parasol' لإدارة التحديات الحرارية.
Firefly Aerospace（纳斯达克：FLY） 已从 NASA 获得一份价值 1000 万美元的合同追加，用于获取 Blue Ghost Mission 1 月球任务的更多数据。该公司在任务中共收集了 120 千兆字节数据，该任务的运行时间比迄今为止的任何商业月球任务都要长。
数据包括月球表面首次高清图像的日食和日落、S-band 和 X-band 天线的通信数据、Spectre 推进器的推进数据，以及在极端条件下从 230°F 到 -275°F 的温度数据。该任务在 500°F 的温度差 下成功运行，并展示了如“operation parasol”等创新解决方案来应对热挑战。
- Secured additional $10 million NASA contract for lunar mission data
- Achieved longest operational duration for any commercial lunar mission
- Collected 120 gigabytes of valuable lunar data including first-of-its-kind imagery
- Successfully demonstrated operational capabilities in extreme lunar conditions
- Completed all mission objectives despite challenging environment
- Experienced thermal conditions beyond initial models due to unexpected surface effects
Insights
Firefly's $10M NASA contract for lunar mission data strengthens its commercial space leadership position and NASA partnership.
Firefly Aerospace has secured a
The contract's value extends beyond the immediate revenue, as it validates Firefly's technological capabilities. The company collected approximately 120 gigabytes of unique lunar data during a 45-day transit and 14+ days of surface operations - significantly outlasting other commercial lunar missions.
The scientific value of this data is particularly noteworthy. Firefly captured first-of-their-kind high-definition images of a solar eclipse and sunset from the lunar surface, potentially providing insights into lunar dust levitation and horizon glow phenomena. The mission also gathered critical performance data in extreme lunar conditions, including a 500°F temperature delta where temperatures peaked at 230°F during lunar noon and plummeted to -275°F during a solar eclipse.
Firefly demonstrated operational resilience by implementing innovative solutions like "operation parasol," where they repurposed their antenna as a sunshade to manage extreme temperatures. This adaptability allowed the company to complete all mission objectives despite challenging conditions.
The data collected will inform NASA's Artemis campaign, improving thermal models and preparations for lunar infrastructure and habitation. This positions Firefly as a valuable partner in NASA's broader lunar ambitions, potentially opening doors to future contracts as lunar exploration accelerates.
Addendum includes additional images and data from Firefly’s 60-day lunar mission, including lunar transit and surface operations on the Moon
CEDAR PARK, Texas, Sept. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY), a market leading space and defense technology company, today announced a
“Firefly’s Blue Ghost mission operated on the Moon longer than any commercial mission, which allowed us to capture first-of-its-kind data during multiple phenomena on the Moon’s surface, including everything from sunrise to sunset and even a solar eclipse,” said Will Coogan, Blue Ghost Chief Engineer at Firefly Aerospace. “We look forward to sharing this wealth of data with NASA and the larger scientific community to better inform future robotic and human missions that enable NASA’s Artemis campaign.”
The scope of this data buy encompasses images captured by Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander during its 45-day transit to the Moon and more than 14 days of surface operations. This includes the first high-definition images of a solar eclipse and sunset captured from the Moon’s surface, that could provide insight into outstanding questions regarding lunar dust levitation and the horizon glow phenomenon.
The data buy also includes communications data and transmit speeds from Blue Ghost’s S-band and X-band antennas, propulsion data from Firefly’s Spectre thrusters during critical burns and the final lunar descent, and other lander performance data. Firefly will also provide NASA with additional payload science data as well as lander and payload temperature data captured during a 500°F temperature delta on the Moon.
During Blue Ghost operations within the Moon’s Mare Crisium, temperatures peaked at 230°F during lunar noon, the hottest part of the lunar day, and quickly dropped to -275°F during a five-hour solar eclipse, which included two hours of totality when the Earth blocked the sun and cast a shadow on the lunar surface.
“Blue Ghost survived extreme temperature variations on the Moon that pushed us past our thermal models due to newly observed surface effects,” said Coogan. “The Firefly team demonstrated its ingenuity in operating through these extremes, developing creative solutions such as ‘operation parasol’ where we gimbaled our antenna to use it as a sunshade until temperatures dropped.”
These innovative solutions allowed the Firefly team to complete all mission objectives and gather critical data about the effects of lunar terrain along the way, including how sunlight reflections from nearby craters alter a lander's thermal state and how lunar dust buildup affects component performance.
“This data is critical as our nation works towards building a sustainable human presence on the Moon,” said Coogan. “It can significantly improve thermal models and better prepare infrastructure, habitats, and humans for the challenging lunar environment.”
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables government and commercial customers to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for responsive space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with approximately 24-hour notice. Firefly is also the only company to achieve a fully successful landing on the Moon. Established in 2017, Firefly’s engineering, manufacturing, and test facilities are co-located in central Texas to enable rapid innovation. The company’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles are built with common flight-proven technologies to enable speed, reliability, and cost efficiencies for each mission from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com.
Media Contact
press@fireflyspace.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3aa7b497-f15a-44e5-8df0-15ac87aa3f9a
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