Firefly Aerospace plans to land their Blue Ghost lunar lander near Mare Crisium on March 2 at 3:34 a.m. EST. The mission carries NASA science payloads as part of the CLPS initiative and Artemis campaign for lunar exploration. Live coverage will begin at 2:20 a.m. EST on NASA+.
A detailed analysis of Mars mission constraints reveals fundamental challenges in orbital mechanics, mission duration, and crew safety that make human exploration significantly complex. Mission profiles must choose between long-stay (1000 days) or short-stay (650 days) options, each presenting unique risks and technical hurdles. The analysis emphasizes that reliable life support systems, autonomous operations, and radiation protection remain critical unsolved challenges.