Firefly Aerospace Adds Volta’s Wireless Power Receiver to Blue Ghost Mission on Far Side of the Moon

Core Insights - Firefly Aerospace has entered a commercial payload agreement with Volta Space Technologies to host a wireless power receiver on its Blue Ghost Mission 2 lander, aimed at demonstrating technologies for lunar power grid support [3][4] - The LightGrid network, planned by Volta, will consist of satellites in lunar orbit that collect solar energy and transmit it via laser to receivers on the Moon's surface, facilitating a sustainable lunar power infrastructure [4][11] Company Overview - Firefly Aerospace is a leading space and defense technology company, known for its rapid innovation and capability to launch and land spacecraft, with a focus on lunar missions [10] - Volta Space Technologies is developing a sustainable energy grid for lunar operations, with plans to begin orbital power missions in 2028 and expand into nuclear fission power systems [11] Mission Details - Blue Ghost Mission 2 will carry six payloads from five different countries, including NASA's LuSEE-Night radio telescope and the European Space Agency's Lunar Pathfinder satellite, aimed at enhancing lunar exploration and communication [5] - The mission will also initiate Firefly's Ocula lunar imaging service, utilizing high-resolution telescopes for mineral mapping and situational awareness on the Moon [6][7] Technological Demonstrations - The Volta payload on Blue Ghost Mission 2 will validate the first LightPort, showcasing how lunar surface users can access Volta's power grid [4][5] - The mission will demonstrate the integration of Volta's laser-receiver system into centralized power generation architectures, enabling local power distribution on the lunar surface [4]