NASA publishes stunning video of Moon from orbit
The Blue Ghost space module takes a stunning photo of the Moon and the Sun (photo: Firefly Aerospace)
The Blue Ghost module, launched in January by Firefly Aerospace, successfully entered lunar orbit. During this operation, it captured an intriguing photo featuring the Moon, the Sun, and the solar panels of the spacecraft, according to the Space website.
Firefly Aerospace completed the challenging task of placing the Blue Ghost module on an elliptical orbit around the Moon in just 4 minutes and 15 seconds. Over the next 16 days, additional maneuvers will be carried out to transition to a circular orbit and bring the spacecraft closer to the Moon’s surface, the company announced.
The images also reveal NASA's payload, including communication antennas and the LEXI (Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager) instrument, designed to study space weather.
A stunning time-lapse was created from the captured images, showcasing Blue Ghost's rotation around the Moon.
Currently, the spacecraft is on a wide elliptical orbit, following an oval trajectory. In the next two weeks, the team plans to activate its engines to adjust the orbit to a more circular shape. The planned landing is expected on March 2, 2025.
