Firefly Aerospace launches Blue Ghost Lunar Lander on a SpaceX rocket, embarking on a 45-day journey to conduct scientific experiments on the moon.

Rocket Lab USA ( RKLB, Financials) announced its role in supporting Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost Mission 1, a lunar lander initiative under NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Starting its 45-day trip to the Moon, the business said it uses Rocket Lab's MAX Flight and MAX Ground Data Software packages to enable its operations.

SpaceX and Firefly launch private moon landers, Blue Ghost and Resilience, on secretive lunar missions, carrying cultural and scientific payloads to explore the Moon.

The moon has come into view for Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost spacecraft, which is scheduled to land on Earth's nearest neighbor a month or so from now.

Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 1 has taken a significant leap toward the Moon, with its successful second engine burn positioning the spacecraft for lunar orbit. NASA’s science and technology instruments aboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 are making steady progress toward the Moon.