Lunar Helium-3 Extraction Project Secures Five Patents for LH3M
Lunar Helium-3 Mining LLC (LH3M), a company dedicated to the extraction of He-3 from the Moon, has recently made significant strides in its mission. The company, which is currently in the development phase, has secured its fifth US patent and is in talks with two rover companies, one based in the US and one in Europe, for potential collaboration.
The focus of LH3M's technology is its potential for being less prone to breakdowns due to its reliance on fewer moving parts. This is a crucial aspect considering the high costs associated with lunar mining, with each kilogram costing approximately $20 million. To turn a profit, lunar mining companies must create a mass-efficient extraction-and-return path.
LH3M's founders aim to use lunar, not earth-based techniques for He-3 extraction. They believe that He-3 is the only money-making resource on the Moon, given the current demand outstripping the supply. The demand for He-3 is expected to increase due to its potential use in quantum computing and fusion energy. Salvino, a representative from LH3M, anticipates the need for 100 or more He-3 mining rovers working full-time to meet this demand.
In line with this vision, LH3M plans to collaborate with rover companies for the development of their technology. However, it is important to note that LH3M does not plan to build the rover chassis, rocket, or EVA suits for astronauts. Instead, they aim to fit up to three of their patented He-3 detection methods to a partner rover.
The patents cover LH3M's end-to-end architecture for He-3 detection, extraction, and refinement on the Moon. Lunar regolith, known for its abrasiveness and potential to cause problems for astronauts and equipment, is a challenge that LH3M aims to minimise with its technology. Most lunar He-3 lies in the first three-to-four centimetres of lunar regolith, and LH3M's technique is designed to address these issues.
LH3M's potential collaboration with SpaceX could see the SpaceX Starship rocket used for transporting their developed technology to the Moon. This aligns with LH3M's vision of a potential need for Starship for lunar transportation.
Competition in the lunar He-3 mining sector is also heating up, with LH3M's competitor, Interlune, recently unveiling a prototype excavator intended for the lunar surface in 2027. As LH3M continues its development phase and negotiations with rover companies, the race to mine He-3 on the Moon is certainly one to watch.
