Fusion Power from Lunar Resources
Abstract
The moon contains an enormous energy source in 3He deposited by the solar wind. Fusion of only 100 kg of 3He with deuterium in thermonuclear fusion power plants can produce > 1000 MW(electric) of electrical energy, and the lunar resource base is estimated at 1 × 109 kg of 3He. This fuel can supply > 1000 yr of terrestrial electrical energy demand. The methods for extracting this fuel and the other solar wind volatiles are described. Alternate uses of D-3He fusion in direct thrust rockets will enable more ambitious deep-space missions to be conducted. The capability of extracting hydrogen, water, nitrogen, and other carbon-containing molecules will open up the moon to a much greater level of human settlement than previously thought.
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To extract 3He on the Moon efficiently, small regolith particles can be heated by concentrated solar energy during lunar day (14 Earth days), and the gases volatilized can be collected and exposed in cold space (-268°C) in lunar night, where all components except 3He and 4He are condensed.
“To extract 3 He on the Moon efficiently, the small regolith particles can be heated by concentrated solar energy during lunar day (14 Earth days), and the gases volatilized (Table S2) 141 can be collected and exposed in a cold space (-268°C) in lunar night, where all the components except the 3 He and 4 He are condensed.”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [141]
The reserves of 3He within the lunar regolith range from a few hundred thousand tons to a few million tons, presenting an energy potential ten times greater than the recoverable fossil fuels on Earth.
“It is estimated that the reserves of 3 He within the lunar regolith range from a few hundred thousand tons to a few million tons, 137-140 presenting an energy potential ten times greater than the recoverable fossil fuels on Earth. 141”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [141]
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References 6 · Cited by 33
- Authors
- Kulcinski, G. L., & Schmitt, H. H. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87122
- ORCID
- Kulcinski, G. L.
- Venue
- Fusion Technology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1992-07
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 2221-2229
- ISSN
- 0748-1896 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1894700075
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Fusion Technology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Fusion materials and technologies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Cold Fusion and Nuclear Reactions
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Keywords
- helium-3, solar wind, lunar resources, deuterium, nuclear fusion, fuel extraction, deep space missions, lunar settlement, hydrogen extraction, water extraction
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