Interlune, a secretive startup led by former Blue Origin leaders, has raised $15.5 million in a recent funding round, according to regulatory documents
The startup, with a focus on harvesting resources from the moon, aims to secure an additional $2 million. While Interlune has maintained a low public profile, its CTO, Gary Lai, previously mentioned the company’s goal of becoming the first to harvest natural resources from the moon for use on Earth. The startup is developing a novel approach to extract lunar resources efficiently, cost-effectively, and responsibly, with the aim of creating a sustainable in-space economy.
Leadership and Funding Details
Interlune is led by Rob Meyerson, an aerospace executive and former president at Blue Origin, and Gary Lai, a former chief architect for space transportation systems at Blue Origin. The recent funding marks the first public indication since the company’s $1.85 million seed round in 2022. Meyerson, an experienced aerospace executive and angel investor, has supported notable hardware startups. The company’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also lists attorney H. Indra Hornsby as an executive, who previously served as general counsel at BlackSky and Spaceflight Industries.
Technology and Lunar Resource Utilization
While details about Interlune’s technology remain limited, an abstract of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the National Science Foundation sheds some light. The SBIR award outlines Interlune’s plan to develop a core enabling technology for lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU): the ability to sort lunar regolith (moon dirt) by particle size. The technology aims to provide appropriate feedstocks for lunar oxygen extraction systems, lunar 3D printers, and other applications. ISRU has gained attention as space startups and organizations explore the possibility of generating materials locally for sustainable space activities.
Commercializing Lunar Resources and ISRU Tech
Interlune is part of a growing number of space startups focusing on ISRU, driven by NASA’s Artemis program’s goal of building a long-term human outpost on the moon. The ability to collect and transform space resources into valuable commodities is considered essential for future space missions. Beyond startups, established companies like Blue Origin are also investing in ISRU tech, recognizing its importance for the development of lunar and Martian capabilities. The capability to “live off the land” on celestial bodies is viewed as a disruptive and necessary capability for the space industry.