Helium-3 is needed for nuclear reactors, quantum computers, and more.
A startup company wants to establish mining operations on the moon to extract a rare isotope needed for future quantum computers and nuclear fusion reactors. And according to one of its scientific advisers, there’s little reason to “preserve the environment” in the process. Following the completion of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission on March 16, the era of private lunar landers is officially underway. But Firefly is far from the only private company eager to reach the moon. Cofounded by a former Blue Origin employee and an Apollo 17 astronaut, Interlune aims to conduct its first lunar excursion in 2027, with plans for multiple additional trips if all goes according to plan. But Interlune’s aims aren’t purely scientific—they want to mine the moon’s possible trove of helium-3 isotopes.
Continue Reading.
