Firefly picks SpaceX's Falcon 9 to launch Blue Ghost Mission 1

Firefly Aerospace/Blue Ghost

Firefly picked SpaceX's Falcon 9 to launch its Blue Ghost lunar lander for NASA's commercial Moon delivery program on May 20, 2021. Firefly chose Falcon 9 because its own Alpha rocket lacked the performance and payload volume needed to deliver the lander and its payload to the lunar surface.

• Firefly selected SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 as launch vehicle for Blue Ghost CLPS mission (NASA payload order 19D).
• Blue Ghost carries 10+ payloads to lunar surface; Falcon 9's high performance permits lunar transit with minimal lander propellant, freeing payload mass.
• Decision reflects Alpha development timeline challenges; Falcon 9 enabled 150+ kg payload delivery to lunar surface versus Alpha's limited capability.