After SpaceX's launch, Firefly Aerospace begins its first moon mission.

• Early Wednesday morning, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched Firefly Aerospace's "Blue Ghost" cargo lander from Florida.
• The nascent, NASA-led market for lunar services is being targeted by the space transportation company as it prepares for its first moon mission.
• On March 2, Blue Ghost is predicted to attempt a landing and remain on the surface for up to two weeks.

Firefly Aerospace, a Texas-based rocket and spacecraft builder, is focused on lunar exploration.

Early Wednesday morning, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched from Florida with Firefly's "Blue Ghost" cargo lander on board, beginning a 45-day journey.

The nascent, NASA-led market for lunar services is being targeted by the space transportation company as it prepares for its first moon mission.

After the launch, Firefly CEO Jason Kim stated that the company is now fully focused on executing its on-orbit operations and preparing to softly touch down on the lunar surface, ultimately paving the way for humanity's return to the Moon.

In recent years, Firefly has diversified its business beyond launching satellites into orbit with its Alpha rockets. The company now focuses on developing lunar landers and space tugs.

A 7-foot-tall lander, known as Blue Ghost, is transporting 10 government and commercial payloads under a $101 million NASA contract.

NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program's third mission, "Ghost Riders in the Sky," is Firefly's. The program aims to deliver science projects and cargo to the moon with increasing frequency in support of the agency's Artemis crew program. Last year, two other companies, Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, launched missions, with the former's falling short and the latter's tipping on its side but surviving the landing.

Firefly has set 17 milestones for Blue Ghost, with one final step remaining. The company has already accomplished five of those milestones, including launching and testing the spacecraft in orbit.

The lunar mission is scheduled to arrive on March 2 and will focus on the Mare Crisium basin on the moon's near side. Upon landing, Firefly plans to operate the lander for a full lunar day, equivalent to approximately 14 Earth days, as well as for several hours during the lunar night.

On Wednesday morning, SpaceX's rocket launched two lunar landers.

Ispace is currently flying its second moon mission, following its first crash-landing in 2023. The primary payload for the launch was Firefly, but ispace had previously arranged a "rideshare" agreement with SpaceX, meaning its lander would end up hitching a ride.

In 2025, NASA anticipates that up to five U.S. companies will attempt to land on the moon.