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Rocket Lab USA (RKLB, Financials) announced its role in supporting Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost Mission 1, a lunar lander initiative under NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
Starting its 45-day trip to the Moon, the business said it uses Rocket Lab's MAX Flight and MAX Ground Data Software packages to enable its operations.
For the flight, Rocket Lab reported providing three photovoltaic assemblies. These components, according to the firm, cover 400 watts of power over 1,470 running hours and are placed on the upper deck and sides of the lander Furthermore stated by the corporation is that these devices are meant to assist important operations throughout the cruise and landing stages of the mission.
Apart from hardware, Rocket Lab said that its staff is helping with burn control, attitude control, and orbit determination all during the operation. In a statement, Space Systems Vice President of Business Development & Strategy Richard French stated the business is helping to forward commercial lunar exploration.
According to Rocket Lab, the Blue Ghost mission is meant to bring tools and technological demos to the Moon. The business also highlighted that these initiatives fit more general lunar scientific and exploration goals set forth by NASA.
Based in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab promoted itself as a full-service space enterprise. It said that its Electron rocket has launched over 200 satellites since 2018. The business also supports NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and claims to be building the Neutron launch vehicle for next constellation installations.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.