SpaceMiningData
SpacecraftMoonIn development

Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 2 (Riders 2 the Dark)

Firefly's second lunar mission, a Blue Ghost lander stacked on an Elytra Dark orbiter bound for the lunar far side, is to deploy Fleet Space Technologies' SPIDER passive-seismic payload, which Firefly says will detect water ice deposits in the subsurface. Firefly now lists the launch as no earlier than 2027 (announced in 2023 for 2026).

Objective. Operate Fleet Space's SPIDER seismic (ambient-noise) payload from the lander for up to 14 days to image the subsurface and look for water-ice signatures; this is a seismic survey, not sampling or extraction.

Targeted

Facts

Kind
Spacecraft
Mission type
Prospecting
Target
MoonLunar far side (specific site not stated in sources reviewed)
Launch
Planned, no earlier than 2027
Announcement date not recorded. Record checked 2026-09-25.
Phase
In developmentFirefly's Blue Ghost Mission 2 page (accessed 2026-09-25) lists it as an upcoming mission set to launch no earlier than 2027.
Outcome
Not applicable
Why it is included
Stated resource objective

Participants

Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.

OrganizationRole
Firefly AerospaceOperator
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationCustomer
Fleet Space TechnologiesPayload owner
European Space AgencyPayload owner

Resources and evidence

ResourceEvidence
Water iceTargeted

Dated events

  1. 2023-06

    Australian Space Agency Moon to Mars Demonstrator grant to Fleet Space

    GrantFleet Space TechnologiesWith Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 2 (Riders 2 the Dark)AUD 4,000,000 (company announcement)

    Fleet Space announced it received an A$4M Australian Space Agency Moon to Mars Demonstrator Program grant to develop a lunar geophysical device (SPIDER) to search for water ice.

    Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.

    Sources (2) and evidence gaps
    1. [1]Fleet's Lunar Seismic Technology Heads to the Moon on Firefly's Blue Ghost Lander
      Fleet Space TechnologiesCompany statementPublished 2023-11-09Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: date, summary
      The Australian Space Agency's Demonstrator Program grant from June 2023, enabling Fleet to build SPIDER
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    2. [2]Fleet's Lunar Seismic Technology Heads to the Moon on Firefly's Blue Ghost Lander
      Fleet Space TechnologiesCompany statementPublished 2023-11-09Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: amount, currency, summary
      Earlier this year, Fleet was awarded a A$4M grant by the Australian Space Agency for its Moon to Mars: Demonstrator Program
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    • Australian Space Agency primary record of the grant (space.gov.au refused the raw fetch).

Open evidence gaps

  • Launch vehicle not stated on the current mission page.
  • Exact far-side landing site not stated.
  • Date the launch moved from 2026 to NET 2027 not established.

Record history

changes to this record's facts, newest first

ChangedFieldWasNowReasonSource
2026launch date20262027 (net)Schedule slip[4]

Sources

6 sources
  1. [1]Blue Ghost + Elytra: Lunar Far Side (mission page)
    Firefly AerospaceCompany statementAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch date, phase
    Set to launch no earlier than 2027, the mission will deliver six international payloads
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Blue Ghost + Elytra: Lunar Far Side (mission page)
    Firefly AerospaceCompany statementAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: participants
    a seismic device from Fleet Space
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Firefly Aerospace Announces Agreement with Fleet Space to Deliver Seismic Payload to Far Side of the Moon
    Firefly AerospaceCompany statementPublished 2023-11-08Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: inclusion basis, objective, resources
    Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander will deploy Fleet Space's SPIDER payload to detect water ice deposits and examine the mineral profile of the lunar subsurface
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Firefly Aerospace Announces Agreement with Fleet Space to Deliver Seismic Payload to Far Side of the Moon
    Firefly AerospaceCompany statementPublished 2023-11-08Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch date
    the Australian-backed SPIDER payload will fly on Firefly's Blue Ghost lander as part of Firefly's second lunar mission in 2026
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]Fleet's Lunar Seismic Technology Heads to the Moon on Firefly's Blue Ghost Lander
    Fleet Space TechnologiesCompany statementPublished 2023-11-09Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: objective
    develop a geophysical device that will deliver insight about the subsurface of the Moon's South Pole and search for water ice deposits
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]Firefly Aerospace Announces Agreement with Fleet Space to Deliver Seismic Payload to Far Side of the Moon
    Firefly AerospaceCompany statementPublished 2023-11-08Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: objective
    This data will offer insights into the geological properties of the lunar subsurface and its mineral profile, such as water ice, that can support lunar infrastructure and further regolith exploration.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.