How a start-up plans to mine the moon for a rare form of helium

A space start-up will launch a moon mining mission in 2027, with the eventual goal of delivering a rare form of helium that is essential for some quantum computers and future nuclear fusion reactors. If successful, it will be the first commercial mission of its kind.

Helium-3, a form of helium with one neutron – as opposed to normal helium-4, which has two – is extremely rare on Earth, at a ratio of roughly one part per million…