Interlune
Seattle company that states it will harvest helium-3 (and later other resources) from lunar regolith and return the helium-3 to Earth. As of September 2026 it has ground prototypes, customer purchase agreements, and NASA-funded lunar payloads in development, but has not flown hardware to the Moon.
Resources and evidence
Each resource shows the highest step primary sources support. How the ladder works.
| Resource | Evidence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Helium-3 | Targeted | mission aimed at it |
| Volatiles | Targeted | mission aimed at it |
| Regolith | Targeted | mission aimed at it |
| Water ice | Claimed | says it will |
| Oxygen | Claimed | says it will |
| Rare earths | Claimed | says it will |
| Metals (general) | Claimed | says it will |
Demonstrated
Earth-based work only. Company-stated: parabolic-flight tests of regolith sorting and extraction prototypes (2024-2025); a full-scale excavator prototype built with Vermeer and unveiled 2025-05-07 (tested 'with auxiliary components'); helium implanted into an ilmenite simulant and released at temperatures matching Apollo samples (announced 2026-08-26); and 'Cold Capture' cryogenic separation producing 99% pure helium-3 from terrestrial Grade A helium (announced 2026-07-20). No Interlune hardware has flown to the Moon and no lunar helium-3 has been extracted or delivered.
Claimed or planned
Interlune states it will estimate helium-3 abundance from surface imaging on Griffin-1 (METAL camera, late 2026), fly the NASA-funded Prospect Moon payload (ready for launch in 2028) to extract and measure solar-wind volatiles, then operate a lunar pilot plant and return helium-3 to Earth, with contracted deliveries starting 2028-2029 and industrial quantities in the 2030s, followed by metals, rare earth elements, water and oxygen.
Facts
- Headquarters
- United States
- Type
- Company
- Founded
- 2020
- Status
- Activeas of 2026-05-04. NASA announced in May 2026 a $6.9 million Phase III SBIR contract to Interlune for lunar resource-prospecting technology development. This primary award announcement supports active development; it does not establish completion of a private financing round.
- Roles
- Prospecting, Extraction, Processing / ISRU
- Targets
- Moon
- Also known as
- Interlune Corp; Interlune Corporation
- Website
- www.interlune.space
Missions
5 records| Mission | Role | Launch | Phase | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect Moon (Interlune payload suite)Payload | Operator | Not recorded | In development | Not applicable |
| Prospect Moon (Interlune payload suite)Payload | Payload owner | Not recorded | In development | Not applicable |
| Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1, NASA Moon Base II)Spacecraft | Payload owner | Planned 2026 H2 (target)Date detailsAnnouncement date not recorded. Record checked 2026-09-25. | In development | Not applicable |
| METAL multispectral camera (Interlune / NASA Ames) on Griffin-1Instrument | Operator | Planned 2026 H2 (target)Date detailsAnnouncement date not recorded. Record checked 2026-09-25. | Manifested | Not applicable |
| METAL multispectral camera (Interlune / NASA Ames) on Griffin-1Instrument | Payload owner | Planned 2026 H2 (target)Date detailsAnnouncement date not recorded. Record checked 2026-09-25. | Manifested | Not applicable |
Dated events
Amounts are shown one at a time as each source states them. They are never added together.
- 2026-07-30
Interlune-Vermeer expanded partnership (lunar site-preparation tool)
Interlune and Vermeer announced an expanded partnership and a plan to deliver a mission-ready lunar site-preparation tool by 2028, to be demonstrated first on Earth and then on the Moon.
Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.
Sources (1)
Interlune and Vermeer plan to develop, test, and deliver a mission-ready lunar site-preparation tool by 2028, aligning their efforts with NASA's Moon Base program plan.
- 2026-03-03
Interlune-Astrolab excavation integration study
Interlune and Astrolab announced a completed concept study to integrate Interlune excavation hardware on Astrolab's FLEX rover, with hardware testing planned in Houston.
Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.
Sources (1)
today announced they are working together to integrate Interlune excavation technology onto the Astrolab Flexible Logistics and Exploration Vehicle (FLEX), and are planning hardware testing in Houston
- 2026-02-24
NASA SBIR Phase III contract to Interlune for Prospect Moon
NASA awarded Interlune SBIR Phase III contract 80NSSC26C0002 ($6,893,204, signed 2026-02-24) for 'Prospect Moon', a lunar resource technology demonstration and prospecting payload; NASA announced the award in May 2026.
Sources (2)
"total_obligation":6893204.0,"subaward_count":0,"total_subaward_amount":null,"date_signed":"2026-02-24"
To advance ISRU technologies, NASA has awarded a firm-fixed-price contract of $6.9 million over the next year and a half to Interlune of Seattle
- 2026-01-27
NASA STTR Phase I contract to Interlune (lunar trenching)
NASA awarded Interlune STTR Phase I contract 80NSSC26C0029 ($150,000, signed 2026-01-27) for a scalable lunar trenching implement, with the Colorado School of Mines; Interlune announced it on 2026-02-04.
Sources (2) and evidence gaps
STTR PHASE I SCALABLE IMPLEMENT FOR LUNAR TRENCHING
The $150,000 contract will focus on developing analytical models, engineering standards, and testing hardware to inform the future design of Interlune's multipurpose lunar trenching and excavation technology.
- USAspending also lists an earlier record with the same title (80NSSC25C0229, $0, 2025-09-29); relationship not explained
- 2025-09-16
Bluefors agreement to buy lunar helium-3 from Interlune
Interlune and Bluefors announced that Bluefors agreed to buy up to 10,000 liters of helium-3 a year for delivery from 2028 to 2037; both companies published the release. Interlune later described it as a purchase of more than $300 million of helium-3. Nothing has been delivered.
Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.
Sources (3) and evidence gaps
has agreed to purchase up to ten thousand liters of helium-3 annually, for delivery from 2028 to 2037
has agreed to purchase up to ten thousand liters of helium-3 annually, for delivery from 2028 to 2037
Last September, Interlune announced an agreement with quantum technology refrigeration company Bluefors for the purchase of more than $300 million of helium-3
- Contract value is a company characterisation ('more than $300 million'), not a disclosed contract figure
- 2025-09-02
Texas Space Commission grant to Interlune (regolith simulant center)
Interlune announced on 2025-09-02 a grant of up to $4.84 million from the Texas Space Commission to develop lunar regolith simulants at a Houston-area research center. The commission’s own release confirms the award, which reimburses eligible expenditures.
Sources (2) and evidence gaps
has been awarded up to $4.84 million in a grant from the Texas Space Commission (TSC) to develop and test highly specialized simulants of Moon dirt, or regolith
grant of up to $4.84 million has been awarded to Interlune Corporation
- Government release has no visible publication date; September 2 is the dated company announcement, not an independently established award-signature date.
- 2025-08-26
AFWERX SBIR Direct-to-Phase II contract to Interlune (helium-3 separation)
The Department of the Air Force awarded Interlune contract FA864925P0440 ($1,249,990, signed 2025-08-26) to separate helium-3 from domestic helium; Interlune announced it on 2025-11-19. Terrestrial helium, not lunar.
Sources (2)
"total_obligation":1249990.0,"subaward_count":0,"total_subaward_amount":null,"date_signed":"2025-08-26"
selected by AFWERX for an SBIR Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25M focused on new technology to separate helium-3 from domestic helium
- 2025-08-05
Interlune payload agreement with Astrolab (FLIP rover)
Interlune and Astrolab announced that an Interlune multispectral camera for estimating helium-3 will fly on Astrolab's FLIP rover on an upcoming lunar mission, which Interlune described as its first lunar mission.
Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.
Sources (1)
today announced that an Interlune payload will fly on Astrolab's FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) rover on its upcoming mission to the Moon
- 2025-05-07
Maybell Quantum agreement to buy lunar helium-3 from Interlune
Interlune announced that Maybell Quantum agreed to buy thousands of liters of helium-3 for yearly delivery from 2029 to 2035, for dilution refrigerators. Nothing has been delivered.
Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.
Sources (1) and evidence gaps
has agreed to purchase thousands of liters of helium-3 for yearly delivery from 2029 to 2035
- Counterparty (Maybell Quantum) statement not raw-checked on its own site; contract value not disclosed
- 2025-05-07
US DOE Isotope Program agreement to buy lunar helium-3 from Interlune
Interlune announced that the DOE Isotope Program agreed to buy three liters of helium-3 harvested from the Moon, delivered on Earth no later than April 2029, at approximately the then-current commercial price. No DOE publication of the agreement was found. Nothing has been delivered.
Sources (2) and evidence gaps
the U.S. Department of Energy Isotope Program (DOE IP) has agreed to purchase three liters of helium-3 harvested from the Moon for delivery on Earth at approximately today's commercial market price. The delivery date is no later than April 2029.
Interlune also said it planned to deliver three liters of lunar helium-3 to the U.S. Department of Energy by April 2029.
- No DOE-published record of this purchase agreement found; price not disclosed
- 2025-05-07
Interlune-Vermeer joint development agreement and excavator prototype
Interlune and Vermeer announced a joint development agreement and unveiled a full-scale excavator prototype designed to process 100 metric tons of regolith per hour; Interlune says testing used auxiliary components.
Company announcement. No counterparty or government record found.
Sources (2)
Interlune and Industrial Manufacturer Vermeer Agree to Develop Novel Excavation Equipment and Technology for Use in Space and on Earth
A full-scale prototype of the Interlune excavator, which was developed in partnership with Vermeer. Testing as shown was done with auxiliary components.
- 2024-07-24
DOE Isotope Program grant to Interlune (terrestrial helium-3 separation)
The DOE awarded Interlune a project grant to separate helium-3 from U.S. natural-gas-derived helium (award DESC0024933, $264,694 obligated, signed 2024-07-24). Interlune announced it on 2024-10-03 as a $365,000 grant. This concerns terrestrial helium, not lunar material.
Sources (2) and evidence gaps
HELIUM-3 SEPARATION FROM US LIQUID NATURAL GAS-DERIVED HELIUM-4
today announced a $365,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue new technology that would separate Helium-3 from domestic Helium supplies
- Company-announced amount ($365,000) differs from the obligated amount on USAspending ($264,694)
- 2024-06-27
NASA TechFlights grant to Interlune (regolith comminution)
NASA selected Interlune in its 2023 TechFlights round for parabolic-flight tests of a device to pulverize lunar regolith; Interlune announced the grant on 2024-07-16 and reported earlier prototype flight tests. NASA grant 80NSSC24K0805 ('CRUMBLE', $348,008), signed 2024-06-27, appears to correspond to that selection based on its description and solicitation prefix.
Sources (3) and evidence gaps
"total_obligation":348008.0,"date_signed":"2024-06-27"
A device designed to pulverize lunar regolith into a material useful for mineral extraction, propulsion, life support, and construction on the Moon.
today announced that it received a grant through NASA's TechFlights solicitation to advance its proprietary technology to beneficiate lunar soil, or regolith
- The link between award 80NSSC24K0805 and the TechFlights selection is inferred from matching descriptions (the award ID prefix 23-23FOF1 indicates the Flight Opportunities 2023 solicitation)
- 2023-09-20
NSF SBIR Phase I award to Interlune (regolith size sorting)
The National Science Foundation awarded Interlune an SBIR Phase I grant of $246,028 (award 2304616, signed 2023-09-20, performance 2023-10-01 to 2024-06-30) for regolith size-sorting technology for space resource utilization.
Sources (2)
SBIR PHASE I: REGOLITH SIZE SORTING TECHNOLOGY FOR SPACE RESOURCE UTILIZATION
In October 2023, Interlune received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award to operationalize technology to size and sort lunar regolith.
Open evidence gaps
- No Department of Energy publication of the helium-3 purchase agreement was found; it is company-announced only
- Maybell Quantum's own announcement was not checked raw; the Maybell agreement rests on Interlune's release
- Company purchase-order totals ('nearly $500 million' in May/July 2026 releases; 'more than $500 million' on its website) are not independently verified
- No lander or launch vehicle has been named for Prospect Moon
- The September 2026 Form D and reported $5 million SAFE sale were not independently retrievable in the Astra review. The filing claim is not used here as a confirmed financing fact; active status instead rests on NASA's May 2026 award announcement.
Sources
9 sourcesInterlune will initially focus on extracting and transporting lunar Helium-3 back to Earth for use by commercial and government customers in national security, quantum computing, medical imaging, and fusion energy markets.
Based in Seattle, Interlune was founded in 2020 by a team of highly experienced government and industry experts.
Total Offering Amount $ 5,000,000 USD or Indefinite Total Amount Sold $ 5,000,000 USD
To advance ISRU technologies, NASA has awarded a firm-fixed-price contract of $6.9 million over the next year and a half to Interlune of Seattle
unveiled the full-scale prototype of the Interlune excavator, a machine designed to ingest 100 metric tons of Moon dirt, or regolith, per hour and return it to the surface in a continuous motion
its Cold Capture technology has demonstrated production of 99% pure helium-3 from Grade A helium
it has successfully implanted and then extracted helium-4 in simulated Moon dirt with the same results as actual samples collected during the Apollo missions
Interlune plans to demonstrate its harvesting technology on the Moon in several demonstration missions before returning industrial quantities of lunar helium-3 to Earth for commercial and government customers in the 2030s.
More than $500 million in binding purchase orders for tens of thousands of liters of helium-3 annually, with delivery from 2028 to 2037.