By 
March 19th, 2026
Image credit: Black Moon Energy Corporation
Moon mining for Helium-3 has been given a boost by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Isotope Program (DOE IP).
Black Moon Energy Corporation of Houston, Texas has announced it has secured a contract to supply Helium-3 to the DOE IP. That contract marks a key milestone in the company’s intention to develop the first commercial supply of lunar Helium-3.
DOE IP is the only federal entity authorized to sell and distribute Helium-3.
Scalable reserve within reach
“Helium-3 is extraordinarily scarce on Earth. Small trace amounts escape annually from the Earth’s core, but the primary terrestrial supply is derived from the decay of nuclear materials—an expensive and very limited source,” states Black Moon Energy.
Moon as viewed from the International Space Station:
Image credit: Matthew Dominick/NASA
“In contrast, the Moon has accumulated abundant quantities of Helium-3 in its regolith over billions of years through continuous exposure to the solar wind, making it the only known scalable reserve within our reach,” a company statement adds.
Lunar delineation mission
The company’s commercial roadmap targets Helium-3 production at scale within the next eight years. As part of its agenda, the firm aims to execute one robotic lunar delineation mission within five years to collect data, perform experiments, and “de-risk” future Helium-3 production for long-term development.
By supplying the isotope a number of mission-critical applications involve national security and government research needs, as well as medical diagnostics, quantum computing, cryogenics and fusion energy.
Moon merchants
Back in May 2025, another Helium-3 via the Moon vender, Interlune, announced that the DOE IP has agreed to purchase three liters of helium-3 harvested from the Moon for delivery on Earth at approximately today’s commercial market price. The delivery date is no later than April 2029.
Image credit: Interlune
Go to my earlier Space.com story on lunar Helium-3 mining at:
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/mining-the-moon-can-you-make-money-harvesting-helium-3
Also, go to this informative video produced by IEN Magazine at:
Posted in Space News
