The basics

As the lunar economy continues to mature, there is one resource that has emerged to stand heads and shoulders above anything else in terms of value and importance - helium-3

What is helium-3?

Helium-3 (³He) is a rare, lighter isotope of helium containing two protons and only one neutron. Most Helium-3 found in our solar system is a by-product of the sun’s internal processes, and is dispersed into space on solar wind particles.

Is helium-3 different from "regular" helium?

Helium-3 is a lighter isotope that contains one fewer neutron than regular helium (helium-4), giving it an atomic mass of 3 instead of 4. While regular helium-4 makes up about 25% of all matter in the universe and is readily found in natural gas deposits, helium-3 is incredibly scarce on Earth.

Where can you find helium-3?

The vast majority of Earth's helium-3 is obtained as a byproduct of nuclear weapons maintenance, specifically from the decay of tritium in nuclear warheads. Trace amounts can also be extracted from natural gas wells. However, the lunar surface has been identified as the ultimate source of helium-3, since the Moon's surface contains higher concentrations of the isotope deposited by billions of years of solar wind bombardment.

How much helium-3 is on the moon?

NASA estimates that there are at least 1.1 million tons of helium-3 on the lunar surface, most of which exists in the first few centimeters of regolith (moon dirt). However, given recent landing data from the Chinese National Space Agency’s Chang'e lunar exploration program, the true amount is now estimated to be significantly higher.

How did the moon become so rich in helium-3?

Solar wind particles, which include helium-3 ions, constantly bombard the Moon's surface where they become embedded in the top layers of lunar regolith due to the Moon's lack of a protective magnetic field or atmosphere. These particles have been accumulating over billions of years, becoming trapped within the lunar soil particles. Learn more about the nuclear fusion process in our sun that produces these helium isotopes here.

So then why doesn't helium-3 collect on earth's surface like it does on the moon?

Earth's magnetic field, known as the magnetosphere, deflects most incoming solar wind particles, including helium-3 ions, preventing them from reaching the planet's surface. Additionally, Earth's thick atmosphere acts as a second barrier, stopping any solar wind particles that might make it past the magnetic field, which is why we don't see the same accumulation of helium-3 that occurs on the unprotected lunar surface.

Ok, so why is helium-3 so important?

Helium-3 has multiple critical applications: it's essential for quantum cryogenics and low-temperature physics research, as well as being used in neutron detection for homeland security, medical imaging for lung scans and in specialized laboratory equipment for detecting single electrons and nuclear monitoring. However, most importantly, helium-3 is the ultimate fuel for nuclear fusion, providing clean and abundant energy without radioactive waste, making it one of the most versatile and valuable isotopes known to humanity.

Learn more about helium-3 uses

What does Magna Petra do?

Magna Petra is a lunar resources company focused on the prospecting, extraction and return of helium-3 isotopes from the lunar surface, and back to earth. We have patent pending capture & containment equipment that allows us to extract isotopes from lunar regolith without permanently altering the environment or using significant amounts of energy. Our mission parameters are guided by our proprietary AI modeling software - Lunar Pro™, optimizing destination and collection performance.

What does "Magna Petra" mean?

“Magna Petra” is Latin for great, all important rock. Magna Petra believes that the moon is the most important rock for the advancement of human ingenuity and industry.

When is Magna Petra launching to the lunar surface?

There are two categories of missions planned - reconnaissance and collection/return. Currently planned reconnaissance missions will utilize scientific instruments provided by NASA, on lunar transport provided by the NASA CLPS ecosystem partners. The collection and return missions will be both robotic and manned. Magna Petra has partnered with the leading mobility partner to fly as a mission payload on NASA’s Artemis 3 manned mission, currently scheduled for 2027, with our robotic mission to follow shortly thereafter.

How do you know where on the lunar surface the most helium-3 is located?

Magna Petra has created an AI lunar digital twin named Lunar Pro™, leveraging Stanford University’s supercomputers to simulate over 4 billion years of solar winds. This gives us unsurpassed insights into the distribution and density of helium-3 on the lunar surface as well as a multivariate optimization application to fine-tune optimal rover pathways and isotope yield densities. Learn more here