The race to return to the Moon took another dramatic turn this March as two robotic landers, Blue Ghost and Athena, attempted to establish their presence on the lunar surface. These missions, led by private U.S. companies under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, mark critical steps in humanity’s renewed push for lunar exploration.

Blue Ghost’s Smooth Touchdown

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander made history on March 2, 2025, successfully landing in Mare Crisium, a vast volcanic plain on the Moon’s nearside. Having launched on January 15, Blue Ghost endured a long journey before achieving a precision landing at 3:34 a.m. EST. The Texas-based company designed the lander to carry ten NASA scientific payloads, aimed at studying the lunar regolith, radiation environment, and solar wind interactions. The lander also included a payload to test in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies, which could be crucial for future sustained lunar missions.

Blue Ghost is part of NASA’s Artemis program, supporting the agency’s long-term vision for lunar exploration. Its successful landing demonstrates the viability of commercial partnerships in deep space missions and sets the stage for future Firefly Aerospace lunar endeavors, including a second planned mission in 2026.

This success highlights the growing role of private space ventures in lunar exploration, paving the way for more ambitious missions in the future.

Athena’s Unexpected Tumble

Just days later, on March 6, another lander named Athena, developed by Intuitive Machines, attempted to land on the Moon. However, the mission did not go as planned. Reports on March 7 confirmed that Athena ended up on its side inside a crater during touchdown. Despite the rough landing, mission operators are working to establish communication and assess the lander’s functionality.

Athena was designed to carry multiple scientific payloads, including instruments for studying lunar dust, surface composition, and radiation levels. The lander was also equipped with cameras and sensors to help collect navigation and terrain mapping data. Its mission aimed to provide critical insights into the challenges of lunar surface operations, contributing to future human and robotic exploration efforts.

Although its landing was not perfect, Athena still represents a significant step forward in commercial lunar exploration. Engineers continue to analyze data from the landing to refine future lunar mission designs, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in extraterrestrial environments.

Related: India made History with Successful Moon Landing

A Step Closer to a Lunar Future

These missions demonstrate both the progress and the difficulties of lunar exploration. With NASA aiming for sustained lunar presence under its Artemis program, commercial partnerships like those with Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines will continue to play a crucial role. Every success and setback brings new insights, fueling the quest to unlock the Moon’s secrets and pave the way for human missions in the coming years.

NASA’s Artemis program is a cornerstone of this effort, aiming to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. Future Artemis missions will see astronauts returning to the lunar surface, with Artemis III scheduled to land near the lunar south pole. The Lunar Gateway, a planned space station orbiting the Moon, will serve as a hub for deep space missions, enabling sustained exploration and research. Additionally, NASA is working on the Artemis Base Camp, which will provide infrastructure for extended stays on the lunar surface, supporting scientific research and preparing for future missions to Mars.

With a mix of robotic and human missions, NASA and its commercial partners are steadily building the foundation for a new era of lunar exploration. As space agencies and private companies push the boundaries of technology, one thing is clear—our return to the Moon is only just beginning.