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The Artemis II crew is en route to the moon, but NASA\u2019s interest isn\u2019t just exploration \u2014 it\u2019s extraction. The mission is laying groundwork for permanent lunar colonies at the South Pole to mine helium-3<\/a>, a rare element that\u2019s been collecting in the Moon\u2019s soil for billions of years. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says helium-3 could become \u201ca more efficient source of fusion power\u201d \u2014 and it barely exists on Earth.<\/p>\n Helium-3 is abundant on the moon but a rare commodity on Earth, making it potentially extremely valuable. Helium-3 could power fusion reactors \u2014 a breakthrough energy source first achieved in a lab in 2022 \u2014 and fuel quantum computers, according to Dr. Phil Metzger of UCF\u2019s Florida Space Institute.<\/p>\n The business opportunities go beyond helium-3. Scientists\u2019 and business executives\u2019 long-term vision includes permanent lunar settlements that mine water ice, convert it into rocket fuel, and host autonomous factories and data centers. Moving heavy industrial operations off Earth could reduce strain on the planet\u2019s energy grid \u2014 while creating an entirely new off-world economy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Artemis II crew is en route to the moon, but NASA\u2019s interest isn\u2019t just exploration \u2014 it\u2019s extraction. The mission is laying groundwork for permanent lunar colonies at the South Pole to mine helium-3<\/a>, a rare element that\u2019s been collecting in the Moon\u2019s soil for billions of years. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says helium-3 could become \u201ca more efficient source of fusion power\u201d \u2014 and it barely exists on Earth.<\/p>\n Helium-3 is abundant on the moon but a rare commodity on Earth, making it potentially extremely valuable. Helium-3 could power fusion reactors \u2014 a breakthrough energy source first achieved in a lab in 2022 \u2014 and fuel quantum computers, according to Dr. Phil Metzger of UCF\u2019s Florida Space Institute.<\/p>\n The business opportunities go beyond helium-3. Scientists\u2019 and business executives\u2019 long-term vision includes permanent lunar settlements that mine water ice, convert it into rocket fuel, and host autonomous factories and data centers. Moving heavy industrial operations off Earth could reduce strain on the planet\u2019s energy grid \u2014 while creating an entirely new off-world economy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n