Startup Aims to Mine Moon for Helium-3 to Power Quantum Computers and Medical Scanners
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A new startup called Interlune aims to mine helium-3 gas from the lunar surface and sell it for applications on Earth. It has raised $15 million in funding so far.
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Helium-3 is rare on Earth but may exist in higher quantities in the lunar regolith. It has applications in quantum computing, medical imaging, and potentially fusion energy.
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Interlune faces major technical challenges in extracting helium-3 from the harsh lunar environment and transporting it back to Earth.
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Near term, there is demand for helium-3 in quantum computing and medical imaging. Long term, helium-3 fusion could be viable but there are questions about this approach.
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With NASA's Artemis program, Interlune believes now is the time to start a lunar mining company since transportation and infrastructure will be available.