Interlune

Overview

Interlune is a pioneering space enterprise specializing in the extraction of lunar resources, particularly Helium-3, for utilization on Earth and in establishing a sustainable in-space economy. Founded in 2020 by a team including former Blue Origin executives and an Apollo astronaut, Interlune is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company has raised $18 million in seed capital with significant contributions from Seven Seven Six, and aims to leverage its innovative extraction technologies to commercialize space resources.

Recent Developments

July 2024: Interlune received a $348,000 grant from NASA's TechFlights program to test its lunar soil processing technologies, marking another step towards sustainable harvesting of moon resources. The company also secured a $365,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance its innovative regolith processing technologies.
April 2024: Interlune raised an additional $15 million in a recent funding round, bringing total investments to $18 million. The funds are directed towards developing their proprietary lunar extraction technologies.
March 2024: The startup emerged from stealth mode, publicly announcing its objective to harvest Helium-3 and other resources from the Moon. This unveiling included details about their patent-pending technology designed for efficient and cost-effective space resource extraction.

Attribute	Information
Founding Date	2020
Headquarters	Seattle, Washington, USA
Founders	Former Blue Origin Executives, Apollo Astronaut
Revenue	N/A
Profits	N/A
Key Investors	Seven Seven Six, NASA
Industry	Space Resources
Number of Employees	N/A

Early History

Interlune was conceived during the burgeoning era of private space exploration with an ambitious vision of tapping into lunar resources for Earth-based applications and an in-space economic framework. Founded in 2020 by a collective of experienced industry professionals from Blue Origin and other notable aerospace entities, the company initially operated in stealth mode. The leadership, including seasoned executives Rob Meyerson and technical expert Gary Lai, embarked on developing core technologies for sustainable, cost-effective lunar resource extraction, focusing on enabling future advancements in quantum computing and fusion power.

Company Profile and Achievements

Interlune's business model centers on the innovative extraction and commercialization of lunar resources, including Helium-3, to serve markets in quantum computing, medical imaging, and potential fusion energy. Key achievements include:

Developing patent-pending miniaturized extraction machines: These devices are capable of processing lunar soil (regolith) to extract valuable materials with minimized energy use.
Securing significant funding and grants: The company has attracted $18 million from investors and grants from NASA and DOE to enhance their technology development.
Strategic partnerships: Interlune has aligned with governmental and commercial partners to support its lunar missions, leveraging shared infrastructure and innovation.

Current Operations and Market Position

Interlune is at the forefront of lunar resource extraction, aiming to commercialize Helium-3 within the next decade. The company is recognized for its avant-garde technologies in the field and its potential to revolutionize energy and computing sectors. Interlune's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary, energy-efficient machinery and its strategic partnerships, positioning it favorably in the emerging space resources market.

Conclusion

In its quest to harness lunar resources, Interlune represents a pivotal force in the space industry. With its groundbreaking technologies and strategic partnerships, Interlune is set to play a crucial role in developing a sustainable space economy. The company's efforts not only promise to advance terrestrial energy and computing technologies but also envision a future where space resources sustain humanity's long-term exploratory and economic ambitions.