SpaceMiningData
Listed for contextUnited States

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. federal department whose Isotope Program is the counterparty in Interlune's announced helium-3 purchase agreement and which made a 2024 award to Interlune.

This organization appears because other records name it as a parent, acquirer, counterparty or launch provider. Its own space-resources activity and status are not researched here.

Named in dated events

  1. 2025-05-07

    US DOE Isotope Program agreement to buy lunar helium-3 from Interlune

    ContractInterluneWith U.S. Department of Energy

    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
    1. [1]U.S. Department of Energy Buys Helium-3 from U.S. Space Resources Company Interlune in Historic Agreement
      InterluneCompany statementPublished 2025-05-07Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary, resources, counterparty id
      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.
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    2. [2]Interlune announces deals for moon mining equipment - and for selling lunar helium-3
      GeekWirePressPublished 2025-05-07Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
      Interlune also said it planned to deliver three liters of lunar helium-3 to the U.S. Department of Energy by April 2029.
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    • No DOE-published record of this purchase agreement found; price not disclosed
  2. 2024-07-24

    DOE Isotope Program grant to Interlune (terrestrial helium-3 separation)

    GrantInterluneWith U.S. Department of EnergyUSD 264,694 (official award record)

    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
    1. [1]USAspending.gov award record DESC0024933 (API)
      U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.govGovernment recordPublished 2024-07-24Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: amount, date
      HELIUM-3 SEPARATION FROM US LIQUID NATURAL GAS-DERIVED HELIUM-4
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    2. [2]Interlune Receives U.S. Department of Energy Grant to Increase Supply of Domestic Helium-3
      InterluneCompany statementPublished 2024-10-03Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
      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
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    • Company-announced amount ($365,000) differs from the obligated amount on USAspending ($264,694)

Sources

  1. [1]USAspending.gov award record DESC0024933 (API)
    U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.govGovernment recordPublished 2024-07-24Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
    HELIUM-3 SEPARATION FROM US LIQUID NATURAL GAS-DERIVED HELIUM-4
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.