Interlune said its Cold Capture system produced 99% pure helium-3 from Grade A helium, a purity level the company says is suitable for commercial use.
Cryogenic distillation at near-absolute-zero temperatures separates helium-3 from ordinary helium, and the company says the process can plug into existing helium liquefaction plants.
U.S. helium plants produced about 81 billion liters of helium in 2025; if Cold Capture were deployed broadly, Interlune estimates it could recover up to 2.5 kilograms of helium-3 annually—roughly tripling domestic supply.
Demand is rising because superconducting quantum computers use helium-3 in dilution refrigerators, while most current supply still comes from limited aging tritium stockpiles.
Interlune, which won an AFWERX Phase II contract in 2025 and says it holds nearly $500 million in purchase agreements, is also developing the same technology for future lunar helium-3 extraction.
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Securing the Future of Quantum Computing: Interlune’s Helium-3 Production and the New Lunar Gold Rush
Overview
The rapid growth of quantum computing is driving a critical and immediate demand for helium-3, a rare isotope essential for maintaining the delicate quantum states of qubits. Helium-3 is used in dilution refrigerators, which achieve extremely low temperatures necessary for stable quantum computer operation. As quantum computing infrastructure expands, the need for helium-3 is rising sharply, with future systems expected to require much larger quantities. Interlune’s terrestrial helium-3 production is already helping to meet this demand, supporting key industry players and ensuring a reliable supply for the continued advancement of quantum technologies.