The new space race

Record number of vehicles on their way to the moon: “See you there”

Today, Blue Ghost's lunar lander is expected to touch down on the moon to test a kind of space vacuum cleaner - one of three vehicles currently on their way to the moon. It is the first time ever that so many vehicles have headed for the moon at the same time, writes TT.

Also out in space is Japan's Resilience, which is taking a slower and more fuel-efficient route and is not expected to land until sometime in May-June. This week, Intuitive Machines' lander Athena was also sent up to search for water at the moon's south pole.

“See you soon on the moon!” Blue Ghost greets its rivals.

NASA's science director Nicky Fox tells the AP that we are in a fantastic time.

– We have so much energy, she says.

Private craft has landed: “We are on the moon”

After 1.5 months in space, the private craft Blue Ghost has successfully landed on the moon on Sunday morning Swedish time, several media outlets report. Blue Ghost, which is the size of a hippopotamus, was launched from Earth on January 15 and has not had “any major deviations” along the way, according to program manager Ray Allensworth.

“We are on the moon,” an official in the control room exclaimed according to Reuters.

Blue Ghost is the second private craft to land on the moon, a little over a year after its predecessor, which was also launched in cooperation with Nasa.

When the craft touched down, cheers erupted in the control room