Firefly Aerospace has partnered with Blue Origin's Honeybee Robotics to provide a rover for its third lunar mission in 2028, aimed at studying the Gruithuisen Domes. This agreement highlights the trend of utilizing established space technology to enhance understanding and exploration of the lunar surface in an increasingly competitive market.

The Gruithuisen Domes, located on the near side of the moon, are unique volcanic formations believed to be rich in silica—a composition that is rare on the lunar surface. Studying these domes could reveal insights into the moon's geological history and its potential resources for future human missions.

Firefly's first lunar lander mission, Blue Ghost Mission 1, successfully landed on the moon earlier this month, delivering 10 NASA instruments and operating for two weeks—longer than any previous commercial lunar mission—before concluding on March 16.

The upcoming mission, part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, will employ Firefly's Blue Ghost lander and Elytra Dark orbital vehicle, along with the Honeybee Robotics rover, to explore the domes, building on the success of the inaugural mission.