Quantum Computing's Next Frontier Is Mining For Helium-3 On The Moon

Finnish cryocooler manufacturer Bluefors has signed an agreement to secure a long-term supply of helium-3 harvested from the Moon. Yes, you heard right. No one has set up shop to mine on the moon and yet companies are snapping up lunar resources like kids at a candy store. This particular contract (with U.S.-based space resources company Interlune) represents one of the most significant commercial commitments to date for a resource from an extraterrestrial body.

Bluefors, a leader in cryogenic cooling systems, will purchase up to 10,000 liters of helium-3 annually from Interlune, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2037. Helium-3 is a rare, non-radioactive isotope of helium, and is the unsung hero of quantum computing. To function correctly, the fragile quantum bits (qubits) that power quantum machines must be kept at temperatures below 10 millikelvin (-460 degrees Fahrenheit). This is achieved using specialized ...