Why does helium-3 fascinate scientists so much?
On earth, this isotope of helium is extremely rare. But on the Moon, it could be in abundance, trapped in the upper layer of the lunar soil after billions of years of exposure to solar wind. A simple handful of regolith could contain exploitable quantities of helium-3, enough to make scientists and engineers around the world dream.
Currently, land reserves are derisory. This explains the growing interest in a lunar exploitation. And this is where Interlune stage, an American start-up that wants to transform this idea into reality.
Vermeer and interlune: the duo who wants to dig the moon
To cross this CAP, Interlune has teamed up with Vermeer, an American manufacturer recognized for its drilling and excavation equipment. Together, they developed a life -size prototype of an autonomous lunar excavator, capable of operating under extreme conditions: extreme temperatures, space vacuum, abrasive dust … nothing should stop it.
The machine, according to its designers, may extract up to 100 tonnes of regolith per hour, sort it, recover the helium-3 particles there, and prepare it all for a return to the earth.
If this project may seem eccentric or premature, it nevertheless benefits from active support from the United States government, in particular via NASA and the Department of Energy. And Interlune displays a clear ambition: send this excavator to the moon by 2030.
“High speed mining to harvest helium-3 on a large scale has never been attempted. What we do is a world first, ”says Gary Lai, co -founder and technical director of Interlune.
© InterluneA life -size prototype of the Excavator Interlune, developed in partnership with Vermeer
Japan also enters the race
Interlune is not the only one to covet this lunar resource. In Japan, the industrial giant Komatsu also develops lunar excavators, entirely electric. Presented at CES 2025, these machines are designed to withstand temperatures ranging from +110 ° C to –170 ° C, all without combustion engine – a necessity in an oxygen -free environment.
Where Vermeer focuses on power and yield, Komatsu explores more compact and intelligent solutions, with particular attention paid to thermal control and energy efficiency.
A rush to the moon… with very terrestrial issues
This is not the first time that humanity has embarked on a race for the exploitation of new resources. But the analogy with the gold rush or the beginnings of oil is more striking here than ever. The moon could become the next economic and geopolitical border, where the energy balances of tomorrow will be decided.
Because the one who controls helium-3 could well control nuclear merger … and therefore a decisive part of the global energy transition. As our own energy needs increase, the pressure to find new sources becomes urgent. And if the moon offered a solution, then it will not remain uninhabited for long.
Technical (and ethical) challenges to be met
Of course, the road is still long. The economic feasibility of such a project remains to be demonstrated. Extraction, treatment, transport of helium-3 and its use in still development reactors pose colossal challenges.
Furthermore, the prospect of industrializing the lunar surface raises important ethical questions: do we have the right to exploit a celestial body common to all humanity? Should we supervise these activities with an international treaty?
For the time being, scientific and technological excitement seems to prevail. But the debate is just beginning.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
