The money

Who pays, for what, and whether the numbers close. Launch costs, helium-3, asteroid metals and the companies placing bets.

Start here: Starship payload math for people who want to mine the Moon

1. 
   Starship payload math for people who want to mine the Moon

   What 100-plus tonnes to orbit really buys on the lunar surface, why refilling is the whole game, and the per-kilogram number to watch.
2. 
   Helium-3 reality check: the buyers are real, the reactors aren't

   Lunar helium-3 has signed customers now. They want it for quantum fridges, not fusion. Here's what's contracted and what isn't.
3. 
   Asteroid mining economics: start with the 121.6 grams

   The best-funded asteroid sample return in history brought back about a quarter pound. Here's what that tells you about metal-asteroid pitches.
4. 
   Moon vs. Mars vs. asteroids: where to mine first

   A side-by-side comparison of the three frontiers on distance, feedstock, demonstrated hardware and who's paying. Our pick, with reasons.
5. 
   Who's actually doing space resources in 2026

   A working map of the companies and agencies with hardware, contracts or customers. If it's only a rendering, it isn't on the list.

Other reading paths

• Break in: join the mission (10 reads)
• Space resources 101 (6 reads)
• Rules of the road (3 reads)
• The race to the south pole (7 reads)