NASA has awarded funds to Austin, Texas-based ICON, to develop construction technologies that could help build landing pads, habitats, and roads on the Moon using local lunar resources. (Image credit: ICON/BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group) By Martina Elia Vitoloni, Published by The Conversation, 2 July 2025 In science-fiction stories, companies often mine
By Michelle L.D. Hanlon, Published by Space.com, 20 June 2025 The moon is a key step in the journey of space exploration, but making it habitable brings up lots of questions around space law and policy April 2025 was a busy month for space. Pop icon Katy Perry joined five
A full-scale prototype of the Interlune excavator, developed in partnership with Vermeer: Interlune By Christopher McFadden, Published by Interesting Engineering, 26 May 2025 The lunar excavator, jointly developed by NASA backed startup Interlune and industrial equipment manufacturer Vermeer, is designed to dig up 100 metric tons of lunar dirt per
Artist’s impression of a future Interlune moon mining mission: Interlune By Rosemary Potter, Published by Sustainability Times, 17 May 2025 In a groundbreaking move that could reshape the future of clean energy and quantum computing, Seattle-based startup Interlune is set to extract the rare isotope helium-3 from the moon, challenging
Artist’s impression of a future Interlune moon mining mission: Interlune By Andrew Paul, Published by Popular Science, 17 March 2025 Helium-3 is needed for nuclear reactors, quantum computers, and more. A startup company wants to establish mining operations on the moon to extract a rare isotope needed for future quantum
By Gbenga Oduntan, Published by Defense One, 7 January 2025 Outer space is infinite, but that hasn’t stopped humans trying to impose their laws on it. There are more ways for people to travel to space than ever before, and the next few decades are likely to see the US and China sending humans
Artist's illustration of NASA astronauts near the moon's south pole, a region thought to be rich in water ice, a key resource that could help humanity extend its footprint out into the solar system. (Image credit: NASA) By Michael J. Listner, Published by The Space Review, 6 January 2025 Of
Artist's rendition of ispace's Mission 3 APEX 1.0 lunar lander on the moon. (Image credit: ispace) By Josh Dinner, Published by Space.com, 11 December 2024 Both companies share a vision of "non-destructive, sustainable harvesting" on the moon. Space mining is inching closer to reality with the latest agreement between Japanese lunar
