Interlune, a Seattle-based startup, has made headlines with a significant commercial agreement for lunar resources, particularly helium-3. This isotope, which accumulates on the Moon due to solar winds, has gained increased interest due to its potential applications in various industries, including quantum computing. The deal, announced on Tuesday, marks the largest purchase of lunar resources to date and signals a growing focus on extraterrestrial mining operations.
Major Partnership with Bluefors
Interlune has partnered with Bluefors, a prominent manufacturer of dilution refrigerators and one of the largest consumers of helium-3 globally. Bluefors utilizes helium-3 to maintain ultra-low temperatures essential for the operation of quantum computers. With major tech firms such as Google, IBM, and Microsoft advancing in quantum technology, the demand for helium-3 is expected to surge. The agreement allows Bluefors to purchase up to 10,000 liters of helium-3 annually from Interlune, covering the period from 2028 to 2037. Given that helium-3 is valued at approximately $2,500 per liter, this deal represents a significant financial commitment to lunar resource extraction.
Rob Meyerson, co-founder and CEO of Interlune, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “A majority of the quantum technology industry relies on Bluefors systems to operate and accelerate development. We are excited to help Bluefors continue advancing companies toward unlocking scientific and medical discoveries made possible only by near-absolute-zero temperatures.”
Plans for Lunar Mining by 2028
Founded in 2020 by Meyerson, former president of Blue Origin, along with Gary Lai and Harrison Schmitt, the last living astronaut of Apollo 17, Interlune has spent years preparing for lunar mining. Schmitt has long championed the need to utilize helium-3 from the Moon. Interlune has raised over $18 million in venture funding to advance its objectives, which include developing robotic harvesters and launching a demonstration mission by 2027, followed by a pilot plant by 2029.
Despite the promising roadmap, challenges remain. Interlune must navigate complex technological, logistical, and financial hurdles to achieve lunar mining by the targeted year of 2028. While interest in lunar resource extraction is growing, few companies have made significant strides toward actual implementation. Some experts caution against overestimating the potential value of helium-3, noting that its concentrations on the Moon, although higher than those on Earth, are still relatively low.
For now, the Moon’s helium-3 represents more of a hopeful potential than a guaranteed product. Nevertheless, Interlune’s agreement with Bluefors highlights an increasing demand from the quantum computing sector and could herald a new chapter in the pursuit of space resources. As the industry evolves, the coming years will be telling for the future of lunar mining and the viability of its economic prospects.