NATION
# FireFly Aerospace's Blue Ghost is on its way to the moon: What to know about NASA mission
## The $93.3 million mission comes as NASA plans to send humans back to the moon within this decade for the first time since the U.S. space agency's Apollo program came to an end more than 50 years ago.
 Eric LagattaUSA TODAY!
For the third time in a year, a commercial lunar lander backed by NASA .
The spacecraft built and operated by Texas-based Firefly Aerospace launched in the early Wednesday hours from Florida aboard a SpaceX rocket. Ahead of the lunar lander is a 60-day mission to , where it will deploy a fleet of NASA's scientific instruments to study the moon's environment before humans return.
The $93.3 million mission comes as NASA  within this decade for the first time since the space agency's Apollo program came to an end more than 50 years ago. It also  in which a U.S. company, with NASA as a primary customer, landed its own probe on the moon – marking a historic lunar return.
“This mission embodies the bold spirit of NASA’s Artemis campaign – a campaign driven by scientific exploration and discovery,” NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy . “Each flight we’re part of is vital step in the larger blueprint to establish a responsible, sustained human presence at the Moon,  and beyond."
!
**Our universe:**
## Firefly lander launches on SpaceX rocket
The lander, dubbed "Blue Ghost," hitched a ride aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for a 1:11 a.m. EST launch from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Within about an hour, Blue Ghost separated from the Falcon 9 rocket on an elliptical Earth orbit before establishing communications with Firefly’s mission operations center in Cedar Park, Texas. By 5:30 a.m., mission operators were able to conduct health checks on the spacecraft.
NASA  to make what will be the first of several robotic deliveries to the moon. The  designed and will operate the Blue Ghost lander, which in the months ahead will  for NASA.
     !
“The mission is now in the hands of the unstoppable Firefly team," Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim . "After all the testing conducted and mission simulations completed, we’re now fully focused on execution as we look to complete our on-orbit operations, softly touch down on the lunar surface, and pave the way for humanity’s return to the moon.”
## NASA financed lunar landers in 2024
NASA has been preparing to send astronauts back to the moon under its Artemis campaign, its first lunar program since the Apollo missions came to an end in 1972.
To , uncrewed lander's have embarked on moon missions to study Earth's nearest celestial neighbor. In February 2024, a lander built and operated by Houston space company Intuitive Machines made a historic moon landing.
The 14-foot-tall Nova-C the lander, nicknamed Odysseus for the hero of Greek myth, , landing in the southernmost location of any lunar craft before it. The lander , collecting data and photos that were beamed back to Earth.
Odysseus' landing not only returned America to the moon for the first time in five decades, but also marked the first time a commercial company built a spacecraft that made it to the lunar surface.
The feat followed another company's unsuccessful attempt to land a craft on the moon , including NASA instruments. Pittsburgh-based aerospace company Astrobotic Technology had called off its own moon landing attempt in January 2024 when its Peregrine lander began .
## What is the Firefly mission?
Firefly is one of several American companies contracted by NASA for lunar missions in the next few months as part of the government agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, or  In recent years, NASA has shifted to paying private companies for missions it once would carry out itself as a way to cut costs.
NASA officials say the 10 instruments being transported to the moon under the Blue Ghost 1 mission is the largest delivery under the CLPS to date.
“NASA leads the world in space exploration, and American companies are a critical part of bringing humanity back to the Moon,” Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement. “I am excited to see the incredible science and technological data Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 will deliver in the days to come.”
 will be to the moon's far side and will include delivering a satellite that will orbit the region.
## When will the Firefly spacecraft make it to the moon?
The Blue Ghost space craft will attempt a lunar landing on Sunday, March 2 after roughly 45 days orbiting both Earth and the moon itself.
The lengthy orbital period will enable mission operators to conduct regular health checks, calibrate the propulsion system for critical maneuvers and begin payload science operations, according to Firefly. During transit, instruments aboard the craft will monitor GPS to extend signals to the lunar surface and will begin testing the on-board computer's ability to withstand radiation while in the vacuum of space.
The  near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium – a 300-mile-wide basin in the northeast quadrant of the moon's near side. Firefly's team plans to operate the 10 NASA instruments for a complete lunar day, equivalent to about 14 Earth days.
The instruments the lander carries are for things like lunar subsurface drilling, sample collection, X-ray imaging and dust mitigation. The data NASA hopes to collect should also provide insights into how  effect Earth.
The Blue Ghost also plans to capture high-definition imagery of a lunar sunset, as well as a total eclipse just before the  as the Earth blocks the sun.
## Stay updated on the mission
Firefly will provide  on social media site X and on the  webpage.
*Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com*
                                  © 2025 www.vcstar.com. All rights reserved.
# How many homes have burned in the Los Angeles wildfires so far?
 Karissa WaddickUSA TODAY!
More than 12,000 homes, businesses, schools and other structures have been destroyed by .
Cal Fire said in an update Monday that a total of  across multiple blazes including the  west of Los Angeles, the Eaton Fire near Altadena and the Hurst fire near Sylmar. At least  and more than 100,000 have been forced to flee their homes.
Los Angeles County published  for the Eaton and Palisades fires but warned that damage inspections are ongoing and the maps are incomplete.
Joshua Mott, a spokesperson for Cal Fire, told USA TODAY that initial damage estimates are based on infrared imaging. The aerial estimates are verified by on-the-ground teams that inspect each structure.  A “structure” he said could include anything from a chicken coop to a dethatched garage, or an entire home.
**More:**
Mott said the damage inspections are still underway and will enter areas in the fire perimeter when it is safe to do so.
Here’s a look at the path of destruction.
## Palisades Fire
In the Pacific Palisades, a coastal area between Santa Monica and Malibu, more than 1,200 commercial and residential structures have been destroyed, according to Cal Fire’s estimates. Another 200 homes, businesses and other structures have been damaged by the wildfires.
The fire, which broke out the morning of Jan. 7, has wreaked havoc across 36 square miles, . It is the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles. As of Monday morning, it was only 14% contained.
Look  at the Palisades Fire damage map.
## Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire, which broke out 28 miles inland in the San Gabriel Mountains, has devastated the nearby communities of Altadena and Pasadena. According to Cal Fire, more than 1,400 residential homes, businesses, schools and other structures have so far been destroyed by the blazes and an additional 212 have been damaged.
The fire was 33% contained as of Monday morning. It is blamed for at least 16 deaths, Cal Fire said.
Look  at the Eaton Fire damage map.
## Hurst Fire
The Hurst Fire sparked near the suburb of Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley. It was among the smallest of the blazes, scorching roughly 800 acres. The fire was more than 90% contained as of Monday morning.
Cal Fire has so far not reported any substantial damage to homes or businesses in the area around the Hurst Fire.