The American company Vermeer together with the startup Interlune presented a revolutionary prototype of a lunar excavator. This heavy machinery is being developed to extract helium-3, a rare isotope that could become the fuel for fusion and the basis for new technologies. The step opens up the prospect of industrial development of the Moon and could radically change the approach to energy generation on Earth.
Why is helium-3 so important?
Helium-3 is almost non-existent on Earth. But on the Moon its reserves are estimated in millions of tons. Over billions of years, the solar wind has “glued” this isotope to the lunar regolith. It is key to creating semiconductors, quantum computers, and most importantly, safe nuclear fusion. Unlike traditional reactions, fusion with helium-3 creates no radioactive waste, making it an ideal fuel.
Space Excavator Race
Vermeer’s prototype excavator is capable of processing 100 tons of lunar soil every hour, separating helium-3 for transport back to Earth. The unit is designed to operate in extreme conditions, from +110°C to -170°C and with minimal maintenance.
Other players are joining space mining. Japan’s Komatsu is already testing electric excavators adapted to the moon’s oxygen-free conditions. However, Interlune and Vermeer, with funding from NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, have pulled ahead: their prototype is larger, more powerful and has already been successfully tested.
“No one has ever before attempted to mine resources on the Moon at this speed. Our technology is a breakthrough,” said Interlune Technical Director Gary Lai.
Plans and prospects
Interlune plans to launch the first helium-3 mission by 2030. The success of the project could make the Moon a strategic site for industrialization, and countries with access to its resources could become leaders in global energy.
“This is the beginning of a new era, similar to the oil boom of the twentieth century, but on a cosmic scale,” the experts commented. Control of helium-3 could reshape not only the economy but also geopolitical relations, opening the way to energy independence.
Despite technical advances, challenges remain: the high cost of missions, the logistics of resource transportation, and international regulation. But the steps of Vermeer, Interlune and Komatsu are evidence: space mining is turning from a science fiction story into a reality. And that reality may come sooner than we think.
Previously, we explained whether a fusion engine could help us reach the stars.
According to interestingengineering.com
