The Moon’s regolith holds valuable materials, and helium‑3 — deposited by the solar wind — is attracting commercial interest as a potential fusion fuel and as coolant for quantum computing. Finnish cryogenics firm Bluefors signed a $300M deal to buy up to 265 gallons of helium‑3 per year from Interlune (2028–2037), and Blue Origin plans detailed lunar resource mapping. Experts emphasize that building long-term infrastructure, not just landing first, is the key to economic success, while costs remain high (a 2004 estimate: ~$1,000 per pound round trip).
Is Mining the Moon Profitable? The Promise and Price of Lunar Resources
The Moon’s regolith holds valuable materials, and helium‑3 — deposited by the solar wind — is attracting commercial interest as a potential fusion fuel and as coolant for quantum computing. Finnish cryogenics firm Bluefors signed a $300M deal to buy up to 265 gallons of helium‑3 per year from Interlune (2028–2037), and Blue Origin plans detailed lunar resource mapping. Experts emphasize that building long-term infrastructure, not just landing first, is the key to economic success, while costs remain high (a 2004 estimate: ~$1,000 per pound round trip).
07:07, 07.11.2025Science
Is Mining the Moon Economically Viable?
Since ancient times the Moon has inspired many human emotions — love, longing, wonder and fear — and now, increasingly, commercial ambition. Astronomers and prospectors alike have long known that the Moon’s thin surface layer, the regolith, contains a range of potentially useful materials.
Private companies and governments are racing to identify and claim lunar resources with an eye toward turning moon dust into commercial returns. The most discussed commodity today is helium‑3, a stable isotope of helium deposited on the lunar surface by the solar wind and far more abundant there than on Earth.
Helium‑3 attracts interest for two main reasons: as a potential fuel for future nuclear fusion reactors, and more immediately as a critical input for ultra-low-temperature refrigeration systems used to cool quantum computers.
In a notable commercial move, Finnish cryogenics firm Bluefors agreed to a $300 million contract with lunar-harvesting startup Interlune to purchase up to 265 gallons of helium‑3 annually between 2028 and 2037. Not long after, Blue Origin — the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos — announced plans to produce detailed maps of lunar resources, aiming to identify helium‑3 deposits as well as water ice, rare-earth elements, precious metals and abundant basic elements such as iron, oxygen and silicon.
“The new moon race will not be won by whatever nation plants boots and flags on the lunar surface, but by the one building the infrastructure to sustain a long-term presence and reaping the economic dividends.” — Mustafa Bilal, Centre for Aerospace & Security (SpaceNews)
Finding resources is only the first step. The major hurdle is cost: launching missions to the Moon — particularly those carrying heavy extraction equipment and systems for returning material to Earth — remains extremely expensive. A 2004 estimate put the round-trip cost at about $1,000 per pound, and many analysts consider that figure optimistic for large-scale mining operations.
Technological advances in propulsion, robotics and in-situ resource utilization could reduce costs over time, but developing the infrastructure for sustained lunar operations will require significant investment, international coordination and long-term planning. Balancing commercial ambition with environmental stewardship and scientific priorities will determine whether lunar mining becomes a lucrative industry or an expensive folly.
Looking Ahead
As space technology progresses, the Moon’s role may shift from a distant emotional beacon to a strategic resource frontier. The coming decade will test whether companies can translate promising deposits into profitable—and responsible—resource supply chains.