According to a recent LinkedIn post from Astrolab, the company is collaborating with Interlune to integrate lunar excavation technology onto Astrolab’s FLEX rover. The post suggests the effort is aimed at enabling activities such as helium-3 extraction and construction of roads and berms to support future Moon base site preparation.
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The companies reportedly plan to conduct prototype testing in Houston, where both maintain R&D facilities, including leased space at the Texas A&M University Space Institute under construction at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The LinkedIn post also notes this builds on an existing relationship, as Interlune previously planned to fly a multispectral camera on Astrolab’s FLIP mission to estimate helium-3 concentrations in lunar regolith.
For investors, the collaboration points to Astrolab’s strategy of positioning FLEX as a platform for commercial lunar infrastructure and in-situ resource utilization. If successful, such capabilities could enhance Astrolab’s relevance in the emerging lunar economy and potentially attract defense, space agency, and commercial partners seeking to develop long-term Moon surface operations.
The focus on helium-3 and site-preparation infrastructure also indicates potential alignment with higher-margin, longer-duration lunar projects rather than one-off exploration contracts. However, technical risk, regulatory hurdles, and uncertain timelines for commercial lunar markets mean revenue impact may be long-dated, underscoring the early-stage and speculative nature of this opportunity.