Firefly Aerospace Secures $10 Million NASA Addendum for Mission Data

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Firefly Aerospace, a leading space and defense technology company listed on Nasdaq under the ticker FLY, has announced a significant $10 million contract addendum from NASA. This addition falls under the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and focuses on acquiring extra science and operational data from the company’s groundbreaking Blue Ghost Mission 1, marking the first successful commercial landing on the Moon.

Based in Cedar Park, Texas, Firefly revealed the development on September 22, 2025. The mission amassed nearly 120 gigabytes of data throughout its transit, landing, and surface activities, far exceeding the original contract’s scope.

Will Coogan, Firefly’s Blue Ghost Chief Engineer, highlighted the mission’s extended duration on the lunar surface, which outlasted any prior commercial effort. This allowed the team to document unique events, from sunrise to sunset and even a solar eclipse, providing unprecedented insights for future explorations.

The addendum covers a range of valuable assets, including images taken during the lander’s 45-day journey to the Moon and over 14 days of on-surface operations. Among these are the first high-definition captures of a solar eclipse and sunset from the Moon, potentially shedding light on mysteries like lunar dust levitation and the horizon glow effect.

Beyond visuals, the data includes communication metrics and transmission speeds from the lander’s S-band and X-band antennas, propulsion details from the Spectre thrusters during key maneuvers and the final descent, and overall lander performance metrics. Firefly will also deliver extra payload science information, along with temperature readings amid a dramatic 500-degree Fahrenheit swing on the lunar surface.

Operations in the Moon’s Mare Crisium basin saw temperatures soar to 230 degrees Fahrenheit at lunar noon before plummeting to minus 275 degrees during a five-hour solar eclipse, which featured two hours of total darkness as Earth obscured the sun.

Coogan noted that the lander endured temperature extremes that surpassed initial thermal predictions due to unexpected surface interactions. The Firefly team adapted ingeniously, implementing tactics like “operation parasol,” where they repositioned an antenna to serve as a temporary sunshade until conditions improved.

These adaptations ensured the completion of all mission goals while gathering essential information on lunar terrain impacts, such as how crater-reflected sunlight affects thermal conditions and how dust accumulation influences equipment.

Coogan emphasized the data’s importance in advancing NASA’s Artemis program, aiding the development of more accurate thermal models and preparing for sustained human activity on the Moon, including infrastructure and habitats resilient to its harsh environment.

Firefly Aerospace positions itself as a versatile provider for government and commercial clients, offering launch, landing, and in-space operations with rapid responsiveness. As the sole commercial entity to orbit a satellite on 24-hour notice and achieve a flawless Moon landing, the company leverages integrated facilities in central Texas for swift innovation. Its portfolio includes small- to medium-lift rockets, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles, all designed for efficiency from low Earth orbit to lunar destinations and further.

Source: Firefly Press Release

Last update on 2025-12-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API