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The Moon goes beyond science fiction and stands out as a real resource basin. This great interest is especially focused on the helium-3 isotope, which opens new horizons in the energy and technology sectors. Entrepreneurial souls and visionary companies are racing to use this valuable resource of the Moon. Interlune, one of the pioneers of this race, aims to break new ground in the field of lunar mining.
Interlune is a startup that set out with the mission of carrying the Moon’s rich helium-3 reserves to the Earth. Helium-3, which is carried to the Moon’s surface by solar winds and trapped in the soil there, is blocked by the magnetosphere when it reaches the Earth. Therefore, the Moon stands out as a unique mine for this valuable resource.
Helium-3: The energy of the future
Interlune’s founders include former Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson and other notable figures. This team aims to make the idea of extracting the Moon’s natural resources and transporting them to Earth no longer just a dream, but a technologically and economically feasible goal. In particular, the possibility of using helium-3 as fuel for quantum computers, medical imaging techniques and potentially fusion reactors further increases the importance of this initiative.
Interlune aims to establish a pilot facility on the Moon by 2028 and begin operations by 2030. In this process, large amounts of lunar soil (regolith) will be excavated, processed and helium-3 gas will be extracted and shipped to Earth with the special lunar harvester developed by the company. To achieve this lofty goal, the company recently raised $18 million in funding, $15 million of which was raised in the latest round led by Seven Seven Six, a venture firm launched by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
While such innovative initiatives pave the way for the commercial use of the Moon and space, they also open new doors in the fields of sustainable energy and advanced technology. Interlune’s bold mission has the potential to provide solutions to both space exploration and energy challenges on Earth. Helium-3 hidden in the Moon’s soil is seen as a key to meeting the energy needs of the future. This vision puts humanity on track to use the Moon not only as a target for exploration but also as a valuable natural resource.