Interlune Just Unveiled a Lunar Excavator to Kickstart Helium-3 Mining

A new contender has entered the Moon-mining race. Interlune, a space resources company based in Seattle, has unveiled the full-scale prototype of its lunar excavator, engineered to collect 100 metric tons of regolith per hour.

The system, developed in partnership with heavy machinery manufacturer Vermeer Corporation, is designed for one purpose: extracting helium-3 from the Moon’s surface. This prototype is a first step in Interlune’s longer-term push to tap the Moon’s natural resources, starting with helium-3. The isotope is rare on Earth but expected to be more common on the lunar surface.

Interest in it has ramped up in recent years, thanks to its potential in everything from quantum tech and fusion power to advanced imaging and defence.

Digging for Stardust

Interlune’s design is structured around a four-step process: excavate, sort, extract, and separate. The excavator itself works continuously and with minimal dust displacement, a critical advantage on the Moon’s low-gravity surface. It’s also built to reduce tractive force and power consumption, making it more suited to off-Earth conditions than conventional trench-digging equipment.

The company previously tested a sub-scale prototype in 2024 before moving ahead with the full-scale build. Parallel efforts are underway to test the remaining components of the system, including parabolic flight trials in simulated lunar gravity and cryogenic separation tests in Interlune’s in-house lab.

Vermeer’s involvement signals a growing crossover between terrestrial engineering and space technology. CEO Jason Andringa, grandson of company founder Gary Vermeer, will now join Interlune’s advisory board. The two firms are also exploring further equipment collaborations aimed at future lunar missions, and potentially dual-use systems for Earth-based industries. Interlune has raised $18 million in funding and secured support from NASA’s TechFlights programme, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. Several Moon-bound missions are scheduled for later this decade, with the excavator expected to play a central role.

If successful, the operation would mark a turning point in lunar resource extraction and possibly the commercial use of space-sourced helium-3 on Earth.