Artist rendering of Blue Ghost and Tenacious rover on the lunar surface.
Another privately-run effort at landing on the moon is scheduled to begin this week. The Blue Ghost mission is operated by Firefly Aerospace and is planned for launch aboard a Space X rocket on Wednesday.
Planetary Science Institute's Aileen Yingst explains scientists are trying to adjust to having their expensive research instruments put on top of private launch vehicles instead of NASA rockets.
"But this sort of program allows NASA to focus on what it is really good at, which is doing something first. Doing something really difficult first," she said.
Blue Ghost is the first attempt at a soft lunar landing since the Intuitive Machines spacecraft toppled over when it touched down last February. The lander's instruments continued to function so the mission was still called a success.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.