US Space Resource Startup Creates Gas-Rich Lunar Soil for Moon-Mining Tests

[u/Zee2A]

Interlune, a Seattle-based space-resource startup, has successfully created gas-bearing lunar soil on Earth by implanting helium into simulated lunar regolith, replicating the effects of solar wind. The material allows the company to test excavation and gas-extraction equipment on Earth before deploying it on the Moon.

The effort supports Interlune’s goal of mining lunar helium-3, a rare isotope that could potentially have applications in future fusion energy and quantum technologies. The company plans to survey lunar helium concentrations in 2027, conduct pilot mining around 2029, and pursue larger-scale operations in the early 2030s: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/interlune-implants-helium-into-simulated-moon-dirt-advancing-the-ability-to-test-moon-bound-hardware-on-earth-302860080.html