Full Breakdown
NASA Awards Interlune $6.9 Million Contract for In-Situ Helium-3 Extraction
5/5/2026, 12:24:14 PM
Contract Award and Mission Goal
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate has granted Interlune, a Seattle-based lunar-resource startup, a $6.9 million SBIR Phase III contract. The award funds the “Prospect Moon” payload to demonstrate in-situ extraction of solar-wind volatiles—helium-3 and hydrogen—from lunar regolith.
Background and Key Players
In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) underpins NASA’s Artemis goals, cutting reliance on Earth supplies. The contract leverages the Game Changing Development program, which fielded the MSOLO mass spectrometer on the 2025 Intuitive Machines 2 mission. Participants include NASA’s Game Changing Development team, Interlune CEO Rob Meyerson, and Deputy Program Manager Michael Johansen.
Timeline
The contract was announced on May 4 2024. Prospect Moon integration onto a Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) lander is planned for fall 2027, with a launch window in 2028. Interlune projects helium-3 extraction to become operational in the early 2030s.
Technical Overview
Prospect Moon uses a robotic arm to scoop regolith, heats a sample to release volatiles, and sorts the rest by size. A compact MSOLO-derived mass spectrometer with an onboard hybrid computer and calibration gas system measures gas concentrations on the lunar surface.
Data and Statistics
The $6.9 million contract spans 18 months. Interlune has helium-3 agreements worth about $500 million with the U.S. Department of Energy and quantum-computing firms Maybell Quantum and Bluefors. MSOLO hardware has flown on four CLPS lander designs.
Impact on Artemis and Commercial Space
In-situ helium-3 extraction could provide propellant and power for Artemis habitats, reduce launch mass, and enable a sustainable lunar economy. Commercial demand for helium-3 in fusion and quantum-computing offers a revenue stream that aligns private investment with NASA’s goals.
Official Statements
NASA’s Michael Johansen said the award “matures transformative technologies so they can be confidently adopted by industry,” highlighting NASA’s intent to transition proven hardware to commercial partners. Interlune’s Rob Meyerson called the payload a direct support for Artemis objectives and a commercial use case.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Interlune’s contracts request helium-3 deliveries by 2028, but the company notes lunar extraction won’t be operational until the early 2030s, leaving a gap that must be met by terrestrial helium-3 sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is going to be the first time that solar wind volatiles have been extracted from lunar regolith in situ on the moon,” — Rob Meyerson, CEO, Interlune
- “We’ll calibrate the processes that we eventually want to use on the moon for a full-scale resource extraction operation,” — Rob Meyerson, CEO, Interlune
- “A major goal of NASA is to mature transformative technologies so they can be confidently adopted by industry,” — Michael Johansen, Deputy Program Manager, NASA Game Changing Development Program
- “It is a strong signal that there is a market for helium-3,” — Rob Meyerson, CEO, Interlune
What’s Next
Interlune will complete engineering units by 2026, integrate Prospect Moon onto a CLPS lander in late 2027, and pursue additional SBIR opportunities as NASA’s 2026-2027 Broad Agency Announcement opens on May 21. Full-scale helium-3 extraction is slated for the early 2030s pending successful demonstration.
