Iowa-based equipment manufacturer, Vermeer, is planning to mine for helium, potentially a game-changer for fusion energy, quantum computing and national security advancements. The company has partnered with startup Interlune to develop a prototype excavator capable of processing about 100 metric tons of Moon dirt per hour as part of a helium-3 harvesting system. However, the company has not yet demonstrated its ability to extract or return helium from the Moon at scale. This move comes as NASA launches its first crewed Moon mission in decades.