Black Moon Energy Engages JPL for Lunar Helium-3 Mission

Black Moon Energy Corporation engaged the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a robotic mission to the Moon focused on Helium-3 recovery. The mission will gather data critical to de-risking Helium-3 production—a fuel plentiful on the Moon and ideal for fusion energy. Helium-3 fusion releases four million times more energy than fossil fuels.

JPL Partnership Drives Lunar Helium-3 Data Acquisition

Black Moon Energy is collaborating with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Caltech to manage the robotic systems and scientific instrumentation for a lunar mission. JPL’s expertise will focus on data acquisition and overall mission operations, leveraging their established capabilities in robotic space exploration. This partnership is designed to gather critical information needed to reduce the risks associated with establishing Helium-3 production on the Moon. The initial year-long expedition aims to produce a comprehensive dataset to inform future Helium-3 operations, potentially impacting fields beyond fusion power—including national security, quantum computing, and medical imaging.

Collected insights will shape BMEC’s strategy for creating a reliable and affordable lunar Helium-3 supply chain, ultimately supporting the integration of commercial fusion power into existing electrical grids by the mid-2030s.

Black Moon Energy Targets Fusion-Grade Helium-3 Supply

This resource is scarce on Earth but abundant on the lunar surface, making it an ideal fuel for fusion energy, and the mission aims to collect a “decision-quality dataset” to reduce risks associated with future operations. The company believes a sustainable Helium-3 supply chain from the Moon could address accelerating global energy challenges. BMEC intends to complete this delineation mission within five years, paving the way for long-term Helium-3 development.

Lunar Mission Aims to De-risk Long-Term Production

Black Moon Energy’s robotic lunar mission is designed to gather a first-of-its-kind dataset crucial for future Helium-3 production. This year-long expedition will collect data needed to establish a sustainable and cost-effective supply chain from the Moon’s surface, informing long-term operational strategies. There is an estimated supply of lunar Helium-3 sufficient to power humanity for thousands of years, and fusion using this resource generates four times more energy than fission without radioactive byproducts. Investment in the fusion sector reached $2.64 billion in the year leading up to July 2025, reflecting growing interest in this technology.