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Bluefors and Interlune Team Up to Harvest Helium-3 from the Moon

In a pivotal move for the quantum industry, leading dilution refrigerator manufacturer Bluefors has formed a revolutionary partnership with Interlune, a company dedicated to extracting resources from space. This collaboration will involve the harvesting of helium-3 from the Moon, a material that is essential for the advancement of quantum computing technologies.

The Need for Helium-3

Helium-3, while rare on Earth, is abundantly found on the Moon. This isotope is critical to the operation and efficiency of quantum computers, which demand extraordinarily low temperatures to function optimally. Moon missions in the past, particularly NASA’s Apollo missions, revealed that the solar wind has deposited significant quantities of helium-3 on the lunar surface. As quantum computing is recognized for its potential to fundamentally change various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and artificial intelligence, the supply of helium-3 is becoming ever more critical.

Bluefors plans to purchase up to 10,000 liters of helium-3 annually from Interlune, with deliveries scheduled to commence in 2028 and continue through 2037. This agreement not only highlights the potential of lunar resources but signals a new era of innovation in the quantum industry, where Bluefors aims to solidify its leadership position.

Advancing Quantum Technologies

The Bluefors KIDE Cryogenic Platform is engineered for large-scale quantum computing, with an impressive capacity to handle over 1,000 qubits. The collaboration with Interlune enhances Bluefors' ability to provide the extremely low temperatures, below 10 millikelvin, that are essential for maintaining the stability and performance of qubits. With increasing developments from tech giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft, the imminent need for helium-3 to fuel the next phase of quantum computing is clear.

Rob Blaauwgeers, the founder and CEO of Bluefors, emphasized the significance of this collaboration in securing the necessary supply for the evolving market: “Interlune will provide the huge amounts of helium-3 that the quantum industry needs in the coming years to drive innovation, commercialization, and progress forward.”

Strengthening the Supply Chain

With its commitment to quantum technology, Bluefors is building an industrial supply chain that will not only support its operations but will also propel the entire industry forward. As one of the primary consumers of helium-3, the company has an extensive portfolio, having delivered over 1,500 dilution refrigerators globally. This partnership is poised to guarantee a consistent supply of helium-3, reaffirming Bluefors' role in the future of quantum computing.

Rob Meyerson, the co-founder and CEO of Interlune, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This agreement is another example of the foresight and vision that have made Bluefors the leader in their field.” The collaboration promises to drive significant advancements in scientific and medical discoveries that rely on the extreme low temperatures provided by Bluefors’ systems.

Innovations for Space Harvesting

Interlune has developed a lunar harvester that stands out due to its compact, energy-efficient design, allowing for cost-effective operations on the Moon. The technology utilized to extract helium-3 can also be applied on Earth, enabling the company to separate helium-3 from terrestrial sources prior to lunar missions. Interlune is not stopping at helium-3; it also plans to harvest other vital resources such as industrial metals and rare earth elements to support a sustained lunar presence and the development of an in-space economy.

A Vision for the Future

As Bluefors and Interlune unite to unlock the lunar resources, they are paving the way for an exciting future in quantum computing and beyond. This partnership not only sets a new precedent for space resource extraction but also reflects a broader shift toward sustainable technological advancements. The investment in helium-3 from lunar reserves signifies a critical step towards fostering resilience in the quantum supply chain and promoting unprecedented innovation.

As this collaboration unfolds, the potential benefits could reshape multiple sectors and challenge our understanding of resource utilization both on Earth and in space. Bluefors and Interlune are not just creating a path for the quantum industry; they are building a bridge to a future where space resources could be integral to life on Earth.