For decades, NASA has been synonymous with deep-space exploration, planetary science, and the search for life beyond Earth. But some of the agency’s most transformative work may not be about leaving the solar system—it may be about securing humanity’s future right next door. Scientists backed by NASA are increasingly pointing to the Moon as a potential key to long-term, clean energy for Earth, thanks to a rare isotope believed to exist there in extraordinary quantities.
At the heart of this discussion is helium-3, a non-radioactive isotope consisting of two protons and one neutron. Unlike conventional nuclear fuels, helium-3 does not produce dangerous radioactive waste when used in fusion reactions. That feature has made it a kind of holy grail for scientists seeking safe, virtually limitless energy. The catch? On Earth, helium-3 is exceptionally rare.
Why the Moon Matters
The reason helium-3 is scarce on Earth is also the reason it may be abundant on the Moon. Earth’s strong magnetic field shields the planet from solar wind—streams of charged particles constantly emitted by the Sun. The Moon, however, lacks such protection. Over billions of years, solar wind particles have embedded themselves into the Moon’s surface layer, known as regolith, depositing helium-3 in trace amounts that add up to staggering totals.
NASA-supported estimates suggest that between one and three million tons of helium-3 may be present within the lunar regolith. If even a fraction of that material could be extracted and used in future fusion reactors, it could theoretically power Earth for generations.
“Of the various volatile materials available on the Moon, there is potentially only one that has significant value back on Earth,” said Aaron Olson, a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship recipient. “Helium-3, if used as fuel in a nuclear fusion reactor, could become a significant lunar export for power generation around the world.”
Mining the Moon: From Theory to Engineering
The idea of lunar helium-3 mining is not new. Apollo-era geologist Harrison Schmitt was among the earliest advocates of exploring the Moon’s energy potential. Today, that vision is moving from science fiction toward experimental engineering.
NASA-funded researchers are developing a lunar solar wind volatiles extraction system, designed to heat Moon soil and release trapped gases such as helium-3, hydrogen, and water vapor. These volatile substances are especially concentrated in permanently shadowed regions near the Moon’s south pole, including areas like the Shackleton crater.
Olson’s work, conducted through the Fusion Technology Institute at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, focuses on simulating this extraction process. His team has designed a counterflow heat pipe that enables the controlled heating of lunar soil, allowing helium-3 to diffuse out efficiently.
“From the fusion standpoint, there are large fusion projects like the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor and the U.S. National Ignition Facility,” Olson noted. “They have been making good progress in the last few years.”
Fusion Power and Humanity’s Energy Future
The promise of helium-3 depends entirely on the success of nuclear fusion—a technology that has long been described as perpetually “30 years away.” Yet recent breakthroughs have renewed optimism. Fusion reactions using helium-3 would generate enormous energy without the long-lived radioactive waste associated with today’s nuclear fission plants.
If fusion technology matures alongside lunar mining capabilities, the implications could be profound: a clean, sustainable energy source capable of reducing humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels while minimizing environmental damage.
Still, scientists are careful to temper expectations. Mining the Moon presents immense logistical, ethical, and economic challenges. Equipment must operate in extreme conditions, transport costs would be enormous, and international agreements governing space resources remain incomplete.
Not Goodbye Earth—But a New Partnership
Despite the dramatic framing, this is not about abandoning Earth. Instead, researchers see the Moon as a strategic partner in humanity’s survival—a resource hub that could support clean energy, space exploration, and even future off-world settlements.
As NASA continues to explore sustainable space technologies, the Moon’s helium-3 reserves stand as a reminder that humanity’s future may depend not on escaping Earth, but on reimagining our relationship with the space around it.
