Moon Rush: The Startup Betting Billions on Helium-3 Mining

Moon Rush: Mining the Final Frontier

In the silent abyss of space, where the moon’s barren surface glows under the unfiltered light of the sun, a new era of exploration is beginning—not for science, but for industry. A daring startup, Interlune, has set its sights on one of the rarest elements in the universe: helium-3, a cosmic treasure hidden beneath layers of lunar dust.

But this isn’t just a mission. This is a high-stakes gamble that could redefine the future of energy, computing, and space colonization itself.

A Vision Beyond Earth

The year is 2027. As the world watches, a state-of-the-art lunar lander descends onto the moon’s surface, kicking up a slow-motion cloud of dust as it touches down. Onboard, an advanced suite of tools prepares to extract and analyze the regolith, searching for the isotope that could revolutionize both quantum computing and nuclear fusion.

If successful, this mission—Prospect Moon—could spark a trillion-dollar industry, turning the moon into a new frontier for resource extraction. But with great ambition comes great controversy.

A Race for Power, A Fight for Ownership

Unlike previous lunar expeditions, Interlune’s goals are not purely scientific. They seek to mine, extract, and profit. But who owns the moon? With no nation claiming jurisdiction, the race for helium-3 could ignite a legal and political battleground unlike anything seen before. International space treaties remain vague, and with billions at stake, rival nations and corporations may soon follow.

Meanwhile, ethical concerns loom. Should humanity’s first industrial footprint on the moon be one of extraction? Critics argue that permanently altering the lunar landscape could have unforeseen consequences—not just for science, but for cultural and historical preservation.

A Future Fueled by the Stars

Despite the uncertainty, Interlune is pushing forward, backed by private investors and a growing belief that the future of energy lies beyond Earth. With a single kilogram of helium-3 valued at an estimated $20 million, the potential rewards are staggering. If Prospect Moon proves viable, it could lay the foundation for an era where the moon isn’t just a celestial body, but a bustling hub of interstellar industry.

source: https://www.popsci.com/science/interlune-moon-mining/