Lunar ISRU Program
Resource Mapping
Orbit-SpaceX has mapped four primary resource zones across the lunar surface. From water ice to helium-3, the Moon is the solar system's first refueling stop.
Resource Zones
Shackleton Crater
Extraction
Active — Phase 2
Permanently shadowed region. Average temp: −196°C. Craters provide near-constant shadow ideal for ice preservation.
Identified Resources
- —Water ice (subsurface)
- —Hydrogen deposits
- —Silicate regolith
- —Trace carbon compounds
Estimated Yield
600M tonnes (water ice)
Aristarchus Plateau
Extraction
Survey Complete — Awaiting Phase 1
Highest observed He-3 concentration on the lunar surface. Pyroclastic glass beads serve as efficient extraction medium.
Identified Resources
- —Helium-3 (regolith)
- —Thorium concentrations
- —Rare earth elements
- —Pyroclastic glass beads
Estimated Yield
Est. 2,500 kg He-3
Malapert Mountain
Extraction
Survey In Progress
Peak of Eternal Light — 89% solar illumination year-round. Ideal for permanent base and relay station.
Identified Resources
- —Near-continuous solar
- —Earth line-of-sight comms
- —Regolith for ISRU
- —Adjacent to ice zones
Estimated Yield
Multi-resource
Oceanus Procellarum
Extraction
Prospecting Q3 2026
Largest mare on the Moon. High KREEP concentrations suggest subsurface rare earth mineral richness.
Identified Resources
- —KREEP-rich basalt
- —Thorium/Uranium traces
- —Ilmenite (oxygen source)
- —Olivine deposits
Estimated Yield
Unexplored potential
ISRU Development Roadmap
Remote Survey
Orbital spectroscopy and rover ground-truth. Deposit mapping and resource quantification.
Pilot Extraction
Small-scale extraction demo. Validate ISRU equipment in lunar environment.
Full Operations
Commercial-scale extraction. Water ice electrolysis for propellant production.
Export & Trade
Propellant depots at Lagrange points. Begin export of He-3 to Earth-based fusion programs.