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Interlune intends to mine and deliver Helium-3 from the moon to Earth
In March 2024, space startup Interlune held a funding round. Backed by venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, it raised US$15 million. Interlune plans to use the funds raised to realise its primary goal – resource extraction on the Moon.
According to co-founder Rob Meyerson, the first installation on the satellite will appear in 2028. By 2030, the company hopes to begin full-scale mining operations. Interlune wants to establish the production of the gaseous element Helium-3 on the Moon. This isotope is produced by thermonuclear fusion with the help of the sun. It could have a wide range of applications on Earth, such as:
- participating in quantum computing;
- used as an element in medical imaging;
- as an alternative fuel for fusion reactors.
Helium-3 is not found on Earth because its magnetosphere does not accept its particles. It reaches the Moon thanks to the solar wind. Mankind has learned to synthesise the element itself. It comes from radioactive decay after nuclear weapons tests or in reactors. However, these methods of producing Helium-3 are extremely expensive and labour-intensive.
Prospects for launch
Rob Meyerson and Gary Lai, former top managers at Blue Origin, founded Interlune in 2022. The startup should have disclosed details of its activities or funding sources for a long time. It was in March 2024 that experts learned about investments in the project. We only know that the company previously attracted business angel capital.
So far, the volume of funding for Interlune needs to give analysts confidence in achieving its goals. The fact is that it is necessary to develop a separate technology to extract Helium-3. The first step will be extracting the element from the lunar regolith, a rocky material on the satellite’s surface. Then, it is necessary to consider the algorithm for transporting the gas to Earth. So far, Interlune has not presented a clear action plan for these elements. At the same time, Meyerson believes that now is the ideal time to start mining on the Moon. His argument is the implementation of the NASA-funded Artemis programme. It involves missions to the moon and its comprehensive exploration.
Mining technology
Although lunar deposits of Helium-3 are quite abundant, extracting it poses several difficulties. The element is scattered over the satellite’s surface, and a huge amount of regolith must be processed to extract it. To simplify the process, Interlune has developed its energy-efficient processor technology. The company plans to launch a mission in 2026 that will
- collect samples of lunar regolith from different locations;
- study the concentration of Helium-3 in them;
- and begin extracting the gas from the mineral.
If the mission is successful, Interlune will launch facilities to extract the element in 2028. By 2030, Helium-3 will be available on the global market.