While Earth scrambles for rare resources, a Seattle startup is eyeing the moon’s dirt for profit. Interlune, co-founded by Rob Meyerson and Gary Lai, wants to strip-mine our celestial neighbor for helium-3, a rare isotope that could power fusion reactors and quantum computers.
Seattle startup Interlune plans to strip-mine the moon for helium-3 to power fusion reactors and quantum computers.
The company just disclosed its secret weapon: a massive lunar excavator built with Vermeer Corp. This beast of a machine can chew through 100 metric tons of moon soil per hour. That’s right, per hour. It never stops moving, constantly ingesting regolith and spitting it back out after extracting the good stuff. They tested a smaller version in 2024, but this full-scale prototype is the real deal. The technology requires 10X less power than existing resource extraction systems, making it more viable for lunar operations.
Here’s the thing about helium-3: it’s practically nonexistent on Earth. The moon, however, has been bombarded by solar winds for billions of years, making its surface a goldmine for this isotope. While we use regular helium-4 for party balloons, helium-3 could fuel fusion reactors, power quantum computers, and help detect weapons. Pretty big jump from birthday decorations.
Interlune’s four-step process sounds deceptively simple: excavate, sort, extract, separate. But harvesting enough helium-3 to make money requires processing mind-boggling amounts of lunar dirt. The excavator has to work flawlessly in the moon’s harsh environment. No repair shops up there. Interlune is planning three missions over the next five years to test their hardware on the lunar surface, starting with Crescent Moon in late 2025.
The startup isn’t flying solo. They’ve locked down agreements with the U.S. Department of Energy and Maybell Quantum Industries. Smart move, securing customers before they’ve mined a single gram. By 2029, they claim they’ll be shipping lunar helium-3 back to Earth. Bold timeline for a company attempting something straight out of science fiction.
Remember that 2009 movie “Moon” where Sam Rockwell mines helium-3 alone on the lunar surface? Life’s about to imitate art. While other companies like AstroForge chase asteroids, Interlune’s betting big on our closest neighbor.
The company calls itself “the first company to commercialize resources in space.” Whether that’s prophetic or premature remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: the space mining gold rush has begun, and the moon’s about to get its first industrial makeover.
References
- https://www.geekwire.com/2025/interlune-moon-mining-vermeer-maybell-quantum-doe/
- https://www.interlune.space
- https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/moon-mining-machine-interlune-unveils-helium-3-harvester-prototype-photo
- https://www.icad.com/space-mining-startup-confirms-first-private-mission-to-an-asteroid-in-2025/
- https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-new-company-plans-to-prospect-the-moon
