Home / Technology / Lunar Startup Races to Extract Rare $20M/kg Mineral for Fusion and Quantum Tech
Lunar Startup Races to Extract Rare $20M/kg Mineral for Fusion and Quantum Tech
16 Nov
Summary
- Lunar mineral worth $20M/kg, 150x more valuable than gold
- Startup Interlune developing tech to extract and deliver it from the Moon
- Mineral crucial for fusion power, quantum computing, and nuclear security
In 2025, a Seattle-based startup called Interlune is at the forefront of a potential "lunar gold rush" as it races to extract a rare mineral from the Moon's surface. This mineral, valued at a staggering $20 million per kilogram, is roughly 150 times more valuable than gold due to its critical applications in fusion power plants, quantum computing, and national security.
Interlune has designed a prototype excavator and a plan to bring this valuable lunar resource back to Earth. The company is leveraging the infrastructure being developed by NASA's Artemis Program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. Interlune's Helium-3 extraction process will also allow it to harvest this fusion fuel from the lunar surface, further bolstering the company's ambitious plans.
With deliveries of the rare lunar mineral expected to begin in 2029, Interlune has already secured purchase agreements with companies like Maybell and Bluefors, which require Helium-3 for their cutting-edge quantum computing technologies. The unique challenges posed by the Moon's lower gravity, lack of atmosphere, and distinct soil composition, however, mean Interlune must carefully optimize its extraction and transportation processes to ensure success.
