ORLANDO, Florida-TOKYO: A single rocket has launched two lunar landers from US and Japanese companies, marking a major milestone for private space exploration. On Wednesday, January 15,  Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience were sent to the Moon aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which took off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. In addition to these landers, Resilience will also deploy a micro rover to explore the lunar surface.

Both missions are uncrewed and aim to build on the success of Intuitive Machines, a Texas-based company that last year became the first private entity to land on the Moon. Until now, only a few national space agencies, including the Soviet Union in 1966, have managed to land spacecraft softly on the lunar surface.

However, the tide is changing, as several emerging US companies are now working under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. This program is designed to reduce costs and help create a thriving lunar economy. NASA has plans to set up  a permanent human presence on the Moon later this decade under its Artemis program, partnering with commercial companies to deliver essential equipment at much lower costs than traditional government-led missions.

The Blue Ghost lander is stacked on top of Resilience within the Falcon 9 rocket, as confirmed by SpaceX’s Julianna Scheiman. Blue Ghost will be deployed first, followed by Resilience nearly 30 minutes later. Both spacecraft have different timelines for their journey to the Moon.

Blue Ghost plans to reach the Moon in 45 days. It will gradually increase its orbit around Earth before entering lunar orbit and landing near Mons Latreille, a volcanic area in Mare Crisium on the Moon's northeastern side. NASA scientist Maria Banks shared that this mission will carry out ten NASA instruments for scientific research, including studies on Earth's magnetosphere, lunar dust, and the Moon’s internal structure and thermal properties.

In addition, Blue Ghost will also test navigation and computing technology designed to function in the Moon’s harsh radiation environment.

Meanwhile, Resilience will take four to five months to reach its target in Mare Frigoris, located in the Moon's far northern region. Its payload consists of scientific tools, and the rover features a high-definition camera and will attempt to scoop up lunar mould, the loose material on the Moon’s surface. On its front, the rover also carries a small red "Moonhouse" designed by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg.

Achieving a successful soft landing remains a major challenge for both missions. Spacecraft must navigate over rocky terrain and craters, and without an atmosphere, they rely on thrusters for a controlled descent. A final obstacle is ensuring the spacecraft remain upright after landing. Recent missions have faced similar difficulties: when Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus landed in April 2024, it tipped over, limiting its scientific capabilities. Likewise, Japan’s SLIM lander, which arrived on the Moon in March 2024, landed at a tilted angle, causing its solar panels to misalign and shortening its operational lifespan.