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An American Startup Wants to Transform the Moon Into the New Source of Clean Energy for Planet Earth. With Innovative Technology and Strategic Contracts, the Company Plans to Extract Helium-3, a Rare and Valuable Isotope That Can Power Fusion Reactors and Boost Quantum Computing.
The American startup Interlune is about to inaugurate a new era in space exploration. Founded by former executives of Blue Origin, the company aims to start mining helium-3 on the Moon — a rare isotope, estimated at US$ 20 million per kilogram, with promising applications in fusion energy, quantum computing, and medicine.
The most important thing is that this element, practically absent on Earth, exists in abundance in lunar regolith.
Interlune wants to be the first company to extract, process, and transport this resource from the Moon to our planet.
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Clean Energy and Cutting-Edge Technology Drive Interest
Helium-3 can play a key role in generating clean energy. When used in fusion reactors, it generates very little radioactive waste. This makes it a safe and sustainable alternative to traditional nuclear fuels.
Additionally, the isotope is used to cool superconducting materials, aiding in the operation of quantum processors.
Its use in magnetic resonance imaging equipment is also significant due to its ability to reach extremely low temperatures.
Therefore, the growing demand for helium-3 comes from strategic sectors. Governments, tech companies, and research institutions see this isotope as a chance to break technological barriers and create revolutionary solutions.
A Race to Harness the Lunar Treasure
It is estimated that there are over 1 million tons of helium-3 scattered across the Moon’s surface.
This represents a unique opportunity to supply the global industry with an element that could completely reshape the energy and technology market.
Interlune is heavily investing to lead this race. Based in Seattle and supported by partners like Vermeer Corporation, the company is already developing specific technologies to make lunar extraction possible.
According to CEO Rob Meyerson, “at US$ 20 million per kilogram, helium-3 is the only resource in the universe priced high enough to justify going to space and bringing it back to Earth.”
Robotic Machines Will Operate on Lunar Soil
The key piece of the mission is the lunar collector, an autonomous machine designed to excavate and process the regolith. This technology needs to operate in a hostile environment, with reduced gravity, extreme temperatures, and lack of atmosphere.
The plan is simple but ambitious. There will be five collectors operating simultaneously, excavating up to 100 metric tons per hour. The goal is to refine dozens of kilograms of helium-3 per year.
“We have worked backward from an aspirational vision,” explained Meyerson. This vision includes the continuous production of helium-3 and its subsequent delivery to Earth, in a logistical process still under development.
Strategic Partnerships Boost Project Feasibility
The project gained momentum with support from public and private entities. A contract with the U.S. Department of Energy provides for the purchase of three liters of helium-3 by 2029. This acquisition will serve national security and advanced research purposes.
At the same time, Interlune has partnered with Maybell Quantum, specialized in infrastructure for quantum computing. The company has committed to acquiring thousands of liters of the isotope, necessary for the operation of dilution refrigerators.
These partnerships reinforce confidence in Interlune’s business model and open the door for new commercial and scientific collaborations. The market is beginning to see space mining as a real and promising segment.
Technical Challenges Still Need to Be Overcome
Even with advancements in partnerships, the technological obstacles remain considerable. Extracting helium-3 requires equipment capable of operating precisely, as it is present in very low concentrations — in parts per billion.
Another challenge involves the separation process of helium-3 from other components of the regolith. This requires sophisticated purification and liquefaction technology, capable of functioning under extreme conditions.
The collector prototype is already being tested on Earth in simulated environments. The team is working to adapt it to the vacuum of space, ensuring that it can withstand thermal variations and the absence of atmosphere.
First Prospecting Flight is Scheduled for 2027
Interlune aims to begin its first prospecting mission in 2027. This phase will serve to validate the technology and locate the richest helium-3 sites on the lunar surface.
The company hopes to start large-scale mining by 2029. If the plan works, Interlune will become a pioneer in the extraction of resources from beyond Earth and pave the way for other similar initiatives.
According to co-founder Gary Lai, “when there is abundance of any material on Earth, humans find a way to utilize it.”
He believes that with easier access to helium-3, even more applications for the isotope will emerge.
A New Chapter in Space Exploration
The most important thing is that lunar mining could change how humanity manages its resources. The Moon ceases to be just a symbol of achievement and becomes a tangible economic asset.
If Interlune achieves its goal, it will be possible to turn helium-3 into a source of clean energy and a pillar of the new technological revolution. This means safer fusion reactors, more powerful computers, and more efficient medical equipment.
Therefore, the project goes beyond profit or innovation. It represents a leap in how humanity interacts with space.
A new frontier, now aimed not only at scientific exploration but at creating lasting solutions to the problems of Earth.
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