The company Interlune and Vermeer Corporation a full-scale prototype of an excavator designed to perform operations on the lunar surface. This vehicle will aim to collect helium-3, a rare isotope on Earth, but abundant in the lunar regolith, with applications in nuclear fusion, quantum computing and advanced medicine.
Interlune and Vermeer moon excavator
This prototype has a four-stage system developed by Interlune: excavate, sort, extract and separate. The excavator was built following the success of a scaled-down version in 2024, and operates continuously while reducing dust generation, energy consumption and traction required.
Interlune is currently testing under simulated lunar gravity conditions using parabolic flights, as well as testing cryogenic technology to separate helium-3. This research is part of an effort supported by NASA, the U. S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, which have funded the development of key technologies over the past two years.
With $18 million in funding raised to date and several lunar missions planned for the lunar missions planned by the end of the decade, Interlune seeks to position itself as one of the first companies to commercialize space resources. Its primary goal is to supply helium-3 to government agencies and private sector companies.
Large-scale lunar excavation, never before achieved with this efficiency, opens a new chapter in the responsible exploitation of space resources.
Follow us on social networks and don’t miss any of our publications!
YouTube LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok
Source and photo: Interlune
