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Starcloud’s SC-1L AI computing payload is planned to fly to lunar orbit aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Elytra vehicle as part of a Blue Ghost mission targeted for no earlier than 2028. The demonstration is intended to process data from Firefly’s Solux vision system in orbit and send the results back to Earth—not to launch an operating lunar data-center service.
What Starcloud and Firefly announced
On September 30, 2026, Firefly Aerospace announced a commercial payload agreement with Starcloud. Starcloud’s SC-1L is the computing payload; Firefly’s Elytra is the vehicle that is planned to host it. Firefly describes the flight as a technology demonstration aimed at validating capabilities relevant to a future data center around the Moon.
The announcement establishes a planned demonstration, not an existing lunar data center or a commercially available service. Firefly’s announcement and its Blue Ghost and Elytra mission page describe the mission and its intended role.
How the lunar-orbit computing demonstration is supposed to work
Firefly says SC-1L will take in data from its Solux vision system, perform AI computing in lunar orbit, and transmit processed data back to Earth. The idea is to test processing data near where it is generated, an approach that could support future lunar surface and orbital operations.
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- 【Solar System】: DIY your own sun earth moon orbital rotation model with this creative kit. Seasonal plate that shows the names, order, and dates of the four seasons and the twenty-four solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar. night, seasons, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse and moon phases .
- 【Usage Scenarios】: Great for Geology & Earth Sciences Teaching, School project also Great gift for your children over 6 years old, it cultivates children's interest in space science. Earth orbiting around the sun, and moon orbiting around the earth showing planetary orbit.
- 【To Demonstrate Seasons and Solar and Lunar Eclipses】: 1)Rotate the Earth to show how the Earth's rotation and orbit around the Sun create seasons; 2)To demonstrate a solar eclipse, move the Moon between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on the Earth; 3)To demonstrate a lunar eclipse, move the Moon into the Earth's shadow, creating a tint on the Moon.
- 【Easy to Assemble 】: Updated Instruction 1)Wrench the connecting nut to the seasonal plate; 2) Insert the axe to the slot, put the two screws to the corresponding holes, then tighten the screws; 3) Get the “solar system” aligned correctly: Set the handle with the pointer on the summer solstice, adjust the position of the Earth so that the sun shines directly on its Tropic of Cancer; 4)Assemble the gears upper and underneath with the black peg;Put the sun’s metal wire in the hole on the lever.
- 【Size Information】100% brand new and high quality. Size(LxWxH): Approx. 38 x 20 x 28 cm / 15.20 x 7.87 x 11.02 inch.
Firefly and Starcloud have not published SC-1L’s processor model, detailed payload specifications, power or thermal requirements, measured performance, or price. The announcement therefore describes the intended data flow and purpose, but does not provide enough information to assess the payload’s computing capacity or operational performance.
How SC-1L fits into the Blue Ghost mission
SC-1L is part of Firefly’s broader Blue Ghost mission to the Gruithuisen Domes under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. Firefly says Elytra will first act as a transfer vehicle and communications relay for the Blue Ghost lander. After the landing portion of the mission, Elytra is expected to remain in lunar orbit for five years for payload and imaging operations, including the Starcloud demonstration. That five-year period is Firefly’s stated plan, not a guaranteed or measured operational lifetime.
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- Orbital planetarium model: the model is an excellent way to illustrate earth's rotation, the planet's revolution around the sun, the seasons of the year, and of our moon
- Sun earth moon orbital model classroom apparatus: with its advanced technology, users can witness the phenomenon of and in a captivating and immersive manner
- Solar system project kit: its engaging and interactive nature makes it an ideal instrument for family gatherings, where children and adults alike can at the wonders of the universe
- Planetarium project kit: with the three-sphere eclipse principle astronomy educational instrument, you can explore the wonders of the universe and deepen your understanding of the natural world
- Solar system model:Observe the motion trajectories of the sun, earth, and moon to deepen your knowledge of celestial movements and natural phenomena, ideal for educational purposes
When the mission is expected to launch
Firefly’s current target is launch no earlier than 2028. That is a planning target, not a confirmed launch date; the announcement does not provide a specific day or month.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the announcement does—and does not—show
- It does show: Starcloud plans to provide a computing payload, SC-1L, for a Firefly-hosted lunar-orbit demonstration.
- It describes: an intended workflow in which Solux data is processed in orbit and the results are returned to Earth.
- It does not establish: that a lunar data center is operating, that SC-1L has already demonstrated lunar-orbit performance, or that a commercial service is available.
Starcloud cofounder and CTO Ezra Feilden said the company had validated running and training AI models on enterprise-grade GPUs in low Earth orbit and was taking that technology to lunar orbit. That is Feilden’s account in Firefly’s announcement; the cited company materials do not independently verify the earlier low-Earth-orbit demonstration. Firefly’s investor-relations release also carries the announcement.
Quick Recap
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- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs
- APOLLO LUNAR MODULE – 2 Sheet Model with a moderate difficulty level. Once assembled, dimensions are 2.34 x 2.34 x 2.15 inches.
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- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all
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- The model is an excellent way to illustrate Earth's rotation, the planet's revolution around the sun, the seasons of the year, and the orbit of our moon - all in one!
- This device can serve to illustrate to a young child that Earth spins on its axis, that the moon orbits Earth every 28 days, and the Earth orbits the sun once a year,Can help child's astronomy class better understand moon phases, eclipses, season, etc.
- You can learn about the 24 Solar Terms used by farmers in China,It's pretty easy, it comes in English.
- There is a raised button on the sun model, Remove the wire and push the button, the sun will give out light.
- Note: This item will be interesting to kids who are starting to get excited about astronomy, but It is not suitable for rigorous astronomy scientific research!
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- MAKE ASTRONOMY EASY TO SEE: Gear-driven movement helps teachers and students show how the Earth moves around the sun and how the moon moves around the Earth. Instead of flat diagrams, the model turns abstract lessons into a clear hands-on demonstration for classrooms, homeschool, and science projects.
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- STAY STEADY DURING DEMOS: Plastic and steel construction sits on a wide base designed for repeated classroom handling. The compact 15.2 × 7.87 × 11.02 in size fits on desks, teaching tables, and display shelves while keeping the sun, Earth, moon, and season plate easy to view.
- REDUCE SETUP CONFUSION: The model includes an operating handle, orbit rods, season plate, moon phase display, and gear-driven parts in one kit. For smooth rotation, gears should be aligned freely and not pressed too tightly, helping users get better motion and a cleaner demonstration.
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