Space Startup Interlune Wants To Dig Up The Moon For Helium-3: How Much Will It Cost?

Various countries and firms globally are preparing for different lunar missions for the coming years, but the Interlune lunar mission stands out of the pack. This space startup co-founded by ex Blue Origin employee and an Apollo 17 astronaut aims to mine a specific raw material from the Moon’s surface.

Mining Helium-3 From The Moon

Interlune’s plans for its lunar mission are very straight to the point. They might not require much exploration like other lunar missions. The space startup aims to load some mining materials onto a spaceship, launch it to the Moon, mine the Helium-3 isotope found on the Moon, and return to Earth.

Once back on Earth, the space startup plans to sell the Helium-3 to buyers at a staggering price of $20 million per kilogram. According to sources familiar with the startup’s plans, the first trip to the Moon might be in 2027 to lay the groundwork for mining activities.

If this trip goes according to Interlune’s plan, we might see similar launches taking place more often. This plan might be concerning as the return of humans to the Moon might not take place soon but mining might on the Moon might start as early as 2027.

Since Interlune is a US company and their mining activities on the Moon might be in the best interest of the US, certain countries might raise a brow. There are also the concerns of agencies like the World Monument Fund, which currently considers the Moon a threatened site.

The concern for most people might be due to the potential damage that mining activities might leave on the Moon. Well, a better understanding of Helium-3 gas found on the Moon might ease off some tension surrounding Interlune’s lunar mining plans.

How Does Interlune Plan To Mine Helium-3 On The Moon

One source of Helium-3 isotope in our solar system is the Sun, as it emits this gas in solar winds. These winds travel towards Earth but are blocked off by the Earth’s magnetic field, hence pushing the Helium-3-rich wind towards the Moon.

Since the Moon lacks a magnetic field to ward off the Helium-3-rich solar winds, this isotope settles on the Moon. The Helium-3 isotope gas is then trapped as bubbles inside rocks scattered across the lunar surface.

These rocks are known as regolith and are the main materials that the Interlune mining exercise will be going for. After acquiring these gas pockets filled with Helium-3, Interlune will ship them back to Earth. The company will then extract and sell the isotope for use in quantum computing and nuclear fusion reactors.