The working mechanism of Interlune’s lunar excavator
Helium-3 (He-3) is a non-radioactive isotope of helium that’s extremely rare on Earth, with only tiny amounts produced as a byproduct in nuclear reactors.
However, over billions of years, the moon’s surface has been slowly enriched with helium-3, thanks to solar winds continuously bombarding the lunar soil. Since the moon lacks a magnetic field to shield it from these winds, helium-3 keeps on accumulating in surface dust.
Interlune has developed a prototype lunar soil excavator capable of digging up to three meters deep in the lunar surface, where helium-3 is most likely to be found in higher concentrations.
The excavator can process up to 100 metric tons of regolith (moon dust) per hour, according to the company’s specs. Plus, it can separate helium-3 from other gases using a gaseous chemical process, designed to work in lunar conditions.