Mission Profile
CLPS-LIMS Mission Profile Information
The CLPS-LIMS payload will fly as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, a key element of NASA's Artemis program.
The Blue Ghost Mission 4 (NASA CLPS Task Order CS-6), carrying CLPS-LIMS on its lander platform, will be conducted by Firefly Aerospace, a commercial contractor selected by NASA in July 2025. Firefly Aerospace will develop the lunar lander, integrate all payloads, manage launch operations, and perform the lunar surface mission. The University of Bern is responsible for the development, assembly and testing of the CLPS-LIMS payload itself. After landing Bern's CLPS-LIMS system it will be operated in total 60 hours in situ the lunar surface, across one lunar day (14 Earth days).
| NASA CLPS Task Order (TO) | CS-6 |
|---|---|
Mission Name |
Blue Ghost Mission 4 |
| Launch Vehicle | yet unknown |
| Launch Site | yet unknown |
Traget Launch Date |
Fall 2029 |
Transit to the Moon |
yet unknown |
Landing Site |
Lunar South Pole, close to Haworth Crater |
| Landing Date | Fall 2029 |
| Mission Duration on Surface | 14 days (1 lunar day) |
CLPS-LIMS Surface Operation |
60 h across 1 lunar day |
| End of Life | yet unknown |
| Phase | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
| CLPS Mission Announcement | Fall 2025 | Mission concept finalized; procurement process initiated |
| CLPS Contract Award | Fall 2025 |
NASA to select commercial provider to deliver lander and integrate payloads. |
| Design and Integration | 2025 - 2028 | Lander development, payload integration, system testing |
| Launch windows | Fall 2029 / Fall 2030 | Traget launch date is Fall 2029 |
| Lunar Transfer | yet unknown | |
| Landing | yet unknown | |
| Surface Operations | yet unknown | |
| End of Mission | yet unknown |