Interlene, a space resource startup, recently announced that its first lunar helium-3 excavator prototype is ready and has received its first customer orders. The excavator was jointly built by Interlune and industrial equipment manufacturer Vermeer, aiming to extract valuable helium-3 resources on the moon. This move not only opens up prospects for lunar industrial development, but also has the potential to fundamentally change the way energy is produced on Earth and promote the development of emerging technologies.

1.Helium-3: Treasures on the Moon, the Future of Earth
Helium-3 is an extremely rare isotope on Earth, but on the Moon, its reserves are estimated to be as high as millions of tons. For billions of years, the solar wind has' fixed 'this isotope in the lunar regolith. Interlune CEO Rob Meyerson pointed out that helium-3 is one of the most expensive resources on Earth, with a price tag of approximately $20 million per kilogram. Its high price is due to the scarcity of land supply and the growing demand. Helium-3 on Earth is a byproduct of nuclear energy and its supply is extremely limited. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has limited its supply since 2010 due to severe shortages.
The importance of helium-3 is reflected in multiple cutting-edge fields: it is a key material for manufacturing semiconductors and quantum computers, and an ideal fuel for safe nuclear fusion reactions. Unlike traditional nuclear reactions, helium-3 fusion does not produce radioactive waste. With the vigorous development of quantum computing, the demand for maintaining ultra-low temperatures (Kelvin low temperature) in quantum systems is also increasing, and helium-3 is an important resource for quantum refrigerators. We see an increase in demand that exceeds anything we can produce on Earth, "Meyerson said." Helium-3 is indeed the only substance in the universe that is priced high enough to be sent to space and brought back to Earth for sale

2.Revolutionary mining technology and Interlune's blueprint
The prototype lunar excavator developed by Interlune and Vermeer is designed to process 100 metric tons of lunar soil (weathered layer) per hour. Its workflow includes extracting lunar regolith, removing lunar rocks, crushing regolith into powder, and using gaseous processes to separate helium-3. The device is designed to operate under extreme lunar temperature conditions ranging from+110 ° C to -170 ° C, with extremely low maintenance costs. Gary Lai, Technical Director of Interlune, commented, "No one has ever attempted to mine lunar resources at such a fast pace before. Our technology is a breakthrough
Interlune has obtained its first batch of important clients. The US Department of Energy Isotope Program (DOE IP) has agreed to purchase 3 liters of helium-3 extracted from the moon and deliver it before 2029. In addition, quantum computing infrastructure company Maybell Quantum has agreed to purchase thousands of liters of helium-3 annually between 2029 and 2035.
Interlune's Development Blueprint
In 2027, the plan is to send a prototype of its extractor to the moon to verify its ability to search for and separate helium-3.
2029: Plan to build an experimental factory on the surface of the moon to begin processing helium-3 and transporting it back to Earth.
In the 2030s, plans are underway to launch excavators with more comprehensive capabilities to simplify their lunar operations and begin taking on larger orders.
The company is well aware that its business model relies on a large amount of parallel operating supporting infrastructure, including a launcher to send technology to the moon, a lander to bring excavators to the lunar surface, and a crucial return vehicle to send helium-3 back to Earth.

3.Space mining competition and future prospects
Other companies have also joined the ranks of space mining, such as Komatsu Manufacturing in Japan, which is testing electric excavators that can adapt to the oxygen free environment on the moon. However, with funding from NASA and the US Department of Energy, Interlune and Vermeer have taken the lead in the competition with their larger and more powerful prototypes and successful testing.
Expert comments suggest that this marks the beginning of a new era, comparable to the oil boom of the 20th century, but on a cosmic scale. Controlling helium-3 can not only reshape the global economic landscape, but also potentially alter geopolitical relations and pave the way for achieving energy independence.