Firms Team Up for Moon Mining Tech
Natural resources company Interlune and space logistics firm Astrolab are collaborating on technology to harvest resources on the Moon. The partnership just completed a study to integrate lunar excavation hardware onto Astrolab's FLEX rover, with hardware testing planned for Houston.
Interlune was founded by former Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson, its one-time chief architect Gary Lai, and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt, the only geologist to have walked on the Moon. The company emerged from stealth in March 2024 with $18 million in funding to develop technology for harvesting lunar resources. The primary target is Helium-3, an isotope that is extremely rare on Earth but thought to be abundant on the Moon, deposited by solar winds over billions of years. This resource has potential applications in national security, quantum computing, medical imaging, and as a fuel for nuclear fusion, with an estimated value of around $20 million per kilogram. Astrolab's FLEX rover is a versatile platform designed to support a sustained human presence on the Moon. It can transport two astronauts, handle over 3,500 pounds of cargo, and accommodate a robotic arm, making it suitable for logistics, construction, and resource utilization. NASA has selected Astrolab as one of three companies to develop the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) that astronauts will use during the Artemis missions. The company has an agreement with SpaceX to land a FLEX rover on the Moon as early as late 2026. Interlune's plan involves a prospecting mission in 2027 to analyze lunar soil and test its extraction process. The company aims to begin full-scale harvesting operations in the 2030s, intending to extract 10 kilograms of Helium-3 annually with its initial plant. Beyond mining, the excavation technology Interlune is developing could also be used for lunar infrastructure projects like building roads or radiation shields, aligning with NASA's broader goals for the Artemis program.
