Interlune: The Startup Mining the Moon’s Resources

A groundbreaking startup, Interlune, is on a mission to become the first private company to mine the moon’s natural resources and sell them here on Earth. The company’s primary focus will be on extracting helium-3, an isotope that is abundant on the moon and has a wide range of applications including quantum computing, medical imaging, and potentially being used as fuel for fusion reactors.

Interlune has ambitious plans to have a pilot plant set up on the moon by 2028 and to kick off their operations by 2030. The company is also hoping to have their harvester flown on an upcoming commercial moon mission supported by NASA. Recently, Interlune secured an impressive $18 million in funding, with $15 million of that coming from a round led by Seven Seven Six, a venture firm founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

The process of mining the moon’s resources will involve excavating lunar soil, processing it, and extracting helium-3 gas for transportation back to Earth. Additionally, Interlune plans to send a robotic lander to assess helium-3 concentrations on the moon’s surface.

With a team that includes former Blue Origin executives, an Apollo 17 astronaut, and other experts in the industry, Interlune is confident that harvesting resources from the moon is now both technologically and economically feasible. This innovative approach to space exploration represents a significant step forward in advancing our understanding and utilization of resources beyond our own planet.

Stay tuned for more updates on Interlune’s groundbreaking mission to mine the moon’s resources!