Startups Plan to Harvest Resources on the Moon

Interlune is spearheaded by a team with deep roots in the private and public space sectors, including former Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson, its one-time chief architect Gary Lai, and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt. The company has successfully raised $18 million to fund its development of technology for mining resources on the moon. The primary target for Interlune's initial operations is Helium-3, an isotope scarce on Earth but deposited on the Moon's surface by solar winds. This resource has potential applications in quantum computing, medical imaging, national security, and as a fuel for nuclear fusion. To collect these resources, Interlune is developing a harvester designed to be smaller, lighter, and ten times more energy-efficient than competing concepts. The company has already tested a full-scale prototype of an excavator capable of processing 100 metric tons of lunar soil per hour. Astrolab's contribution to the partnership is its Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover. This vehicle is engineered to carry a payload of up to 1600 kg and can be operated by astronauts or remotely from Earth. The FLEX rover features an adaptive suspension system and a robotic arm, allowing it to navigate rough lunar terrain and handle various payloads. NASA has already selected Astrolab to develop a Lunar Terrain Vehicle for future Artemis missions, with a potential launch as early as 2026. The collaboration faces significant hurdles, as extracting Helium-3 is a complex process. The isotope is found in low concentrations, meaning millions of tons of lunar regolith must be processed to obtain a commercially viable amount.