Interlune, a Seattle-based natural resources company, has been awarded up to $4.84 million from the Texas Space Commission (TSC) to establish a Lunar Regolith Simulant Center of Excellence in Houston, Texas. Positioned near NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the facility will pioneer the development of advanced lunar soil simulants to accelerate lunar exploration and commercialization.
Building a Lunar Economy Hub
The new center will provide high-fidelity lunar regolith simulants, enabling precise testing of landers, rovers, and extraction technologies. Unlike Earth soil, lunar regolith has unique physical and chemical properties. Creating realistic simulants is critical to advancing space exploration and resource harvesting technologies.
Interlune’s Role
Led by Chief Scientist Dr. Elizabeth Frank, Interlune’s Texas-based team will develop, produce, and scale lunar simulants. The company’s proprietary harvesting system, designed to extract helium-3 and other resources, is lighter, smaller, and more energy-efficient than conventional concepts, reducing mission costs. Interlune also plans to offer internship opportunities once the center is operational, contributing to Texas’s workforce development.
Strengthening Texas Aerospace
The TSC grant, provided through the Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF), underscores Texas’s growing leadership in aerospace research. By supporting Interlune’s expansion, the initiative will boost local infrastructure, create jobs, and solidify Houston’s role as a hub for next-generation space industries.
The Race for Helium-3
Helium-3, abundant on the Moon but scarce on Earth, is vital for quantum computing, clean fusion energy, medical imaging, and national security applications. Interlune has already secured binding contracts for helium-3 deliveries starting in 2029, supported by $18 million in venture capital funding and grants from NASA, the Department of Energy, and the NSF. This project positions the U.S. at the forefront of the lunar resource economy.
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