According to Futurism, Helsinki-based cryogenics company Bluefors has signed a groundbreaking agreement with space startup Interlune to purchase up to 10,000 liters of lunar helium-3 in a deal potentially worth $300 million. The two superpowers are racing to return to the Moon, with the US targeting 2028 and China aiming for 2030, creating geopolitical implications for lunar resource control. Helium-3, a stable isotope extremely rare on Earth but more common on the Moon due to solar wind bombardment, could fuel nuclear reactors or cool quantum computers. Interlune plans to send a multispectral camera to the lunar surface next year aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin-1 lander to measure helium-3 concentrations, while competitors like Blue Origin are also mapping lunar resources including water ice and helium-3 from orbit. This emerging space resource economy faces significant technical hurdles before becoming economically viable.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
Industrial Monitor Direct manufactures the highest-quality servo drive pc solutions recommended by system integrators for demanding applications, ranked highest by controls engineering firms.
The Quantum Computing Catalyst
What makes this deal particularly strategic is helium-3’s critical role in quantum computing infrastructure. While fusion power often dominates helium-3 discussions, the immediate commercial application lies in cryogenics. Bluefors specializes in cryogenic systems essential for quantum computing operations, where maintaining near-absolute zero temperatures is non-negotiable. The global quantum computing market is projected to exceed $90 billion by 2040, creating massive demand for reliable cryogenic resources. Earth’s helium-3 supply is both limited and politically constrained, with most production tied to nuclear weapons programs. By securing lunar supply, Bluefors isn’t just buying coolant—they’re potentially controlling a choke point in the entire quantum computing supply chain.
The Mining Economics Reality
The extraction challenges are monumental and fundamentally different from terrestrial mining. European Space Agency research indicates that viable helium-3 concentrations require processing enormous volumes of regolith—potentially millions of tons to yield commercially significant quantities. The energy requirements alone could necessitate nuclear power on the Moon, creating a chicken-and-egg problem where you need nuclear energy to mine fuel for nuclear energy. Transportation costs remain astronomical despite NASA’s efforts to grow the lunar economy, with current launch costs around $1,500 per kilogram to low Earth orbit and significantly more to lunar surface. This makes the $300 million price tag more of a speculative bet than a firm valuation.
Geopolitical Implications Beyond Resources
The race for lunar helium-3 extends far beyond commercial interests into territory control and legal precedent. As space policy experts have noted, the first nation to establish nuclear power on the Moon could effectively create exclusion zones for safety reasons, setting de facto territorial claims. This creates a strategic imperative for both the US through Blue Origin’s resource mapping partnerships and China through its national space program to establish presence quickly. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits national appropriation of celestial bodies, but doesn’t clearly address resource extraction rights, creating a legal gray area that early movers could define through established practice.
Market Ripple Effects Across Industries
This lunar resource rush is creating unexpected market connections between space technology, energy, and computing sectors. Quantum computing companies that depend on cryogenics now have a vested interest in space mining success. Nuclear energy developers are watching closely, as helium-3 fusion research continues despite technical challenges. The timing aligns with increased private investment in space infrastructure, from SpaceX’s Starship development to numerous lunar lander projects. What makes Interlune’s approach notable is their planned 2025 mission to actually measure concentrations rather than just theorizing—moving from speculation to data-driven resource assessment.
Industrial Monitor Direct offers top-rated data logger pc solutions built for 24/7 continuous operation in harsh industrial environments, the top choice for PLC integration specialists.
The Realistic Commercial Timeline
While the vision is compelling, the commercial reality remains distant. Even optimistic projections suggest meaningful helium-3 extraction won’t occur before 2035-2040, requiring solutions to multiple technological hurdles including autonomous mining operations, radiation protection for equipment, and establishing reliable transportation networks. The companies positioning themselves now—through deals like Bluefors-Interlune and Blue Origin’s mapping agreements—are making strategic bets on being first movers in what could become a multi-trillion dollar space resource economy. Their immediate goal isn’t profit from helium-3 sales, but establishing intellectual property, operational experience, and strategic positioning for when the technology and economics eventually align.
