As humanity’s ambitions stretch beyond Earth’s atmosphere, a new industrial frontier is emerging, one that could redefine energy, technology, and even our daily lives. Interlune, a Seattle-based startup founded by former Blue Origin executives, is at the helm of this new wave, aiming to make lunar mining a reality. Their target: helium-3, a rare isotope worth an estimated $20 million per kilogram, scattered across the lunar surface. If successful, this venture could unlock unprecedented technological advancements, from nuclear fusion energy to cutting-edge quantum computing.
Interlune’s vision is clear: to extract helium-3 from the Moon’s regolith—lunar soil—and return it to Earth, where it could fuel critical industries. The company has already made significant strides toward this ambitious goal, with partners like Vermeer Corporation helping to lay the groundwork for a lunar mining mission. “At $20 million dollars a kilogram, helium-3 is the only resource in the universe that is priced high enough to warrant going to space and bringing it back to Earth,” said Rob Meyerson, Interlune’s CEO, highlighting the immense potential of this rare isotope.
Helium-3’s potential is vast, extending far beyond its rarity. Unlike conventional nuclear fuels, helium-3 offers a cleaner, safer alternative for nuclear fusion reactors, producing little to no radioactive waste. Its applications also span quantum computing, where it is used to cool superconducting materials to near absolute zero, enabling faster and more powerful quantum processors. Additionally, helium-3 is essential in medical imaging, particularly in MRI machines that require specialized cooling techniques. Given its scarcity on Earth, the Moon’s abundant supply has caught the attention of researchers, energy companies, and governments alike. With estimates suggesting over 1 million metric tons of helium-3 are scattered across the lunar surface, the Moon represents an untapped treasure trove of potential energy.
To bring this vision to life, Interlune is developing a suite of cutting-edge technologies designed to operate in the harsh environment of the Moon. The centerpiece of this mission is a lunar harvester, a machine capable of excavating and processing lunar regolith at an unprecedented scale. These harvesters will not only dig into the lunar soil but also separate, extract, and refine helium-3 from the Moon’s dust and rocks. “We work backwards from an aspirational vision and that vision is a fleet of five harvesters that are machines that will excavate, sort, extract and separate the helium-3 from the lunar regolith and produce tens of kilograms of helium-3 per year,” Meyerson explained. Achieving this will require overcoming significant technical challenges, from designing autonomous machines that can function in the Moon’s gravity and temperature extremes to perfecting the complex process of isolating helium-3 from the regolith. These harvesters will process up to 100 metric tons of Moon dirt per hour, providing the continuous extraction necessary to meet the demand for helium-3. The success of this project will depend not only on Interlune’s technology but also on securing the necessary private financing and collaboration from other space-faring entities. “It’s challenging and dependent on private financing. It’s also dependent on a lot of other companies,” Meyerson noted, acknowledging the critical role that partnerships will play in achieving Interlune’s ambitious goals.
Interlune’s lunar mining project has already garnered significant attention and support from both government and private sectors. The company recently secured a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which will purchase helium-3 extracted from the Moon for use in national security and technological research. According to the contract, the DOE plans to buy three liters of helium-3 by 2029, making Interlune one of the first companies to secure such a deal for space resources. This partnership underscores the growing importance of helium-3 to the U.S. government and its efforts to maintain leadership in fields like quantum computing and fusion energy. In addition to government contracts, Interlune has also signed agreements with Maybell Quantum, a leading quantum infrastructure company. This collaboration highlights the demand for helium-3 in the quantum computing space, where it is used for ultra-cold cooling systems necessary for the operation of dilution refrigerators. Maybell Quantum has agreed to purchase thousands of liters of helium-3, further solidifying the commercial viability of Interlune’s mining efforts. These contracts are a testament to the growing recognition of lunar resources as a valuable commodity. As the demand for helium-3 continues to rise, Interlune’s ability to deliver this isotope could help establish the company as a key player in the space resources market.
While the potential rewards of lunar mining are enormous, the challenges facing Interlune are equally significant. One of the major hurdles is developing the technology to extract helium-3 from the lunar regolith, which is measured in parts per billion