Interlune: Making Moon Mining a Reality
Ever dreamt of mining on the moon? Well, it’s not just a dream anymore! The Seattle-based company Interlune has just unveiled its ambitious plans to create a robotic harvester. This isn’t your average farm equipment—we’re talking about a high-tech machine designed to scoop up moon dirt and extract helium-3, a rare and valuable resource with the potential to revolutionize fields from quantum computing to fusion power. Imagine that!
The Brains Behind the Operation
You might be wondering, who’s behind this cosmic venture? None other than Rob Meyerson, a co-founder of Interlune and former prez of Jeff Bezos’ space gig, Blue Origin. Meyerson and the team have their eyes set on a 2026 launch for an initial scouting mission, with hopes to kickstart commercial operations in the 2030s. “For the first time in history, harvesting moon resources is not just possible, it’s economically feasible,” Meyerson shared, sparking visions of a near-future where moon minerals are the new gold rush.
Show Me the Money
How’s this all getting off the ground, you ask? With a cool $18 million in seed capital, that’s how. This funding pot includes angel investments and a hefty chunk from a recent regulatory filing. Leading the charge is Alexis Ohanian’s venture firm, Seven Seven Six, with Meyerson’s alma mater, the University of Michigan, among the backers. Ohanian believes that tapping into the moon’s treasure trove of helium-3 could be the key to unlocking future tech advancements that are currently bottlenecked by a lack of resources.
The Tech Wizards of Interlune
Interlune isn’t just a one-man show. The founding team is a veritable who’s who of aerospace and tech innovation, including Gary Lai of Blue Origin fame and Harrison Schmitt, an Apollo 17 moonwalker turned senator. Together, they’re developing groundbreaking tech for moon mining that promises to be both energy-efficient and sustainable.
‘This is a big vision’
So, what’s the big picture? Meyerson lays it out for us: leveraging commercial space services for moon deliveries, developing eco-friendly mining techniques, and bringing back helium-3 in spades. With its potential in quantum computing cooling, national security, and even medical imaging, helium-3 from the moon could be a game-changer.
Looking ahead to the 2030s
Interlune’s roadmap includes a prospecting mission by 2026 and a full-scale operational plan to sell helium-3 in the 2030s. It’s a bold vision, but the team’s confidence in their tech and market demand for helium-3 suggests that this lunar venture could truly take off. And in the long run? Meyerson envisions a thriving in-space economy, with Interlune selling a range of lunar resources to space-faring businesses.
Partnering for the Future
And let’s not forget about partnerships. Meyerson hints at collaborating with his old pals at Blue Origin, aiming to complement each other’s efforts in making the moon not just a destination, but a bustling hub of activity and trade. It’s an exciting time for space exploration, and Interlune is at the forefront, ready to turn the stuff of sci-fi into reality. Who knew moon dust could be so interesting?
