Recommended Free Tools
SpaceX launched Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost and ispace’s RESILIENCE on the same Falcon 9 flight on January 15, 2025. Their outcomes diverged: Blue Ghost made a successful landing in Mare Crisium on March 2, while RESILIENCE reached lunar orbit but failed during its June 6, 2025, Japan time landing attempt.
What happened to the two landers?
The shared launch did not make these a single mission. After liftoff, the spacecraft separated and followed different routes to the Moon, with different operators, goals, and landing dates.
| Mission | Operator and program | Route and key dates | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ghost Mission 1 | Firefly Aerospace; NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) delivery | Launched January 15, 2025; entered a highly elliptical Earth orbit after separation and planned roughly 45 days of transit and orbital operations; landed March 2, 2025 | Successful landing near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium |
| RESILIENCE Mission 2 | ispace commercial mission; not a NASA CLPS delivery | Launched January 15, 2025; followed a low-energy transfer and entered lunar orbit May 7, 2025; attempted landing June 6, Japan time | Landing was not confirmed; ispace concluded the mission after losing telemetry during descent |
NASA describes CLPS as a program that contracts American companies to deliver NASA instruments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface. Blue Ghost was part of that program. RESILIENCE was a separate ispace mission, even though both spacecraft shared the launch.
Blue Ghost landed and operated on the Moon
NASA confirmed that Blue Ghost touched down near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium at 3:34 a.m. EST on March 2, 2025. It was Firefly’s first lunar landing. The lander carried 10 NASA science and technology instruments, with planned surface operations lasting about one lunar day, or approximately 14 Earth days.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all
The instruments tested or demonstrated technologies and investigations relevant to lunar exploration, including subsurface drilling, regolith sample collection, navigation using satellite signals, radiation-tolerant computing, and lunar dust mitigation. NASA later reported that Blue Ghost traveled more than 2.8 million miles and downlinked more than 27 GB of data.
NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro said after the landing: “This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all.” NASA Associate Administrator for Science Nicky Fox said the science and technology sent to the Moon “helps prepare the way for future NASA exploration and long-term human presence.”
Rank #2
- Metal Earth- Insight Mars Lander - 3D Model Metal kit - Age 14 plus
- It starts as 2 x 10 cm metal sheets
- Use the easy to follow illustrated instructions
- Pop out the pieces, bend the tabs and connect them at the attachment points
- Assembled Size: 15cm x 5.5cm x 6.25cm, 5.9 x 2.2 x 2.5 inches, Scale 1:40
RESILIENCE reached lunar orbit, but its landing attempt failed
ispace reported that RESILIENCE entered lunar orbit on May 7, 2025, after an approximately two-month low-energy transfer. The company had planned to land no earlier than June 5 UTC, which was June 6 in Japan.
During the June 6 JST descent, RESILIENCE descended from about 100 km to about 20 km and fired its main engine. ispace then lost telemetry and received no data confirming a successful landing, so it concluded the mission. The company said the lander’s laser rangefinder was delayed in obtaining valid surface-distance readings. Without those readings, RESILIENCE could not slow enough for the planned landing. Based on the available data, ispace said a hard landing was likely; the impact site was not confirmed.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
- Features a detailed Eagle lunar lander replica with lunar surface, crater, footprints, and U.S. flag for a realistic space experience.
- This modular set includes a descent stage with gold-colored landing pads, panels, opening camera, laser hatches, and movable ladder.
- The ascent stage boasts a detailed interior with room for 2 astronaut minifigures, finished with an Apollo 11 Lunar Lander nameplate.
- This collector building set includes 2 astronaut minifigures with N.A.S.A decoration and golden helmets.
- This building model makes a great centerpiece for home or office, providing a challenging and rewarding building experience for adults.
Why sharing a launch did not mean sharing a mission
The Falcon 9 flight carried two independently operated spacecraft, not a pair designed to land together. Blue Ghost followed its planned route from a highly elliptical Earth orbit, while RESILIENCE used a longer, low-energy transfer to lunar orbit. Their elapsed travel times should not be treated as a speed comparison: the missions used different trajectories and pursued distinct objectives.
Blue Ghost’s assignment was to deliver NASA payloads under CLPS and operate on the lunar surface. RESILIENCE was an ispace commercial mission with its own landing attempt. Their shared launch is the connection; their programs, payload purposes, and outcomes remained separate.
Rank #4
- "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Words spoken by Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon. Those moments of the 21st of July 1969 will resonate, entertain and inspire generations to come.
- "The Eagle has landed." Then the moment of watching Neil Armstrong taking his first steps on the moon after leaving the Lunar Module, will make you wax nostalgia everytime you look at this model on one of the most pivotal moments in history, witnessed by millions on live television.
- Airfix is the oldest UK manufacturer of scale model plastic kits and has been producing kits for the mass market since 1952. Airfix produce a wide range of kits aimed at all types of scale modelers with subjects such as; military aircraft, ships, space, cars, dioramas and military vehicles.
- All paints, glue and brushes are included to complete the kit. Additional paints may be required to complete models to a higher specification. Painting and Assembly required.
- Large Gift Sets are perfect one-stop-shop gifts for your modeler friends or to build yourself once you have mastered the basics.
What the missions show
Blue Ghost demonstrated a successful commercial delivery of NASA instruments to the lunar surface. RESILIENCE’s outcome illustrates how a spacecraft can reach lunar orbit and still fail at the final, highly demanding landing phase. Together, the missions show two different paths in commercial lunar exploration—not a head-to-head test of lander performance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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.
- PREMIUM SERIES ARTEMIS MOON ROCKET - 3.50 Sheet Model with a Challenging difficulty level. Once assembled, dimensions are 3.30 L x 2.88 W x 7.40 H inches. 115 Pieces. 1:522 Scale.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
