NASA’s newest mission to the moon successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center early Wednesday morning.

In a significant leap for lunar exploration, Firefly Aerospace's recent mission launched 10 NASA instruments towards the Moon, with successful initial operations reported. Key technologies demonstrate effective performance as they transmit preliminary data back to Earth,

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander will spend around 45 days in transit to the Moon before landing on the lunar surface in early March.

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.

The spacecraft built and operated by Texas-based Firefly Aerospace launched in the early Monday hours from Florida aboard a SpaceX rocket.

The moon has come into view for Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost spacecraft, which is scheduled to land on Earth's nearest neighbor a month or so from now.

Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 1 has taken a significant leap toward the Moon, with its successful second engine burn positioning the spacecraft for lunar orbit. NASA’s science and technology instruments aboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 are making steady progress toward the Moon.