Interlune, a startup based in Seattle, is currently in the process of securing $5 million in funding to advance its efforts in lunar resource extraction, particularly focusing on helium-3. This initiative was revealed through a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which indicated that $500,000 has already been raised from six undisclosed investors.
The company, founded in 2020, aims to enhance its capabilities for upcoming lunar missions. CEO Rob Meyerson stated that the Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) funding would be pivotal in reaching essential technical milestones. Interlune has previously raised $18 million in seed capital in 2024 and is led by notable figures such as Meyerson, who formerly worked at Blue Origin, and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt, an advocate for lunar mining.
Helium-3 is particularly valuable, with market estimates placing it at $20 million per kilogram, due to its potential applications in quantum computing and fusion energy. Interlune has established partnerships with entities including the Department of Energy and Bluefors to develop the necessary technologies for extracting this resource from the moon.