Bluefors, a leading Finnish manufacturer of cryogenic systems for quantum technology, has signed a long-term agreement with US-based space resource company Interlune for the supply of helium-3 harvested from the Moon. Under the deal, Bluefors will purchase up to 10,000 liters of helium-3 annually between 2028 and 2037.
Helium-3, extremely scarce on Earth but abundant on the Moon due to solar wind exposure, is a critical element in cooling systems for quantum computing. The agreement marks a significant step toward building a secure and scalable industrial supply chain for the quantum industry.
Bluefors is one of the largest consumers of helium-3, using it in its dilution refrigerators and cryogenic measurement systems that reach temperatures below 10 millikelvin (approx. -272°C or -458°F). These systems are vital for stabilizing qubits, the building blocks of quantum computers. To date, the company has delivered over 1,500 dilution refrigerators and 15,000 cryocoolers worldwide.
Interlune is the first company to commercialize space resources, developing proprietary technologies for harvesting helium-3 from the lunar surface. Its lunar harvester is designed to be smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient than other proposed solutions, reducing transportation and operational costs. The company has also developed methods to extract helium-3 from terrestrial sources and signed contracts with US government agencies ahead of multiple lunar missions planned this decade.
“Interlune will provide the huge amounts of helium-3 that the quantum industry needs in the coming years to drive innovation, commercialisation, and progress forward,” said Rob Blaauwgeers, Bluefors founder and Interim CEO.
Rob Meyerson, Interlune co-founder and CEO, added: “A majority of the quantum technology industry relies on Bluefors systems to operate and accelerate development. This agreement is another example of the foresight and vision that have made Bluefors the leader in their field.”
