Helios

Recognized under Tier 2 — In-Situ Resource Utilization, Helios is an Israeli startup developing a molten regolith electrolysis reactor that splits lunar soil into oxygen and metal byproducts, including iron, aluminum, and titanium, by passing an electric current through melted regolith. Because roughly 45 percent of lunar soil by mass is oxygen, the process is aimed at producing breathable air and rocket oxidizer without importing consumables from Earth. Helios has said its technology is slated to fly on early Lunar Surface Access Service missions. The company has also demonstrated a terrestrial spinoff of the same electrochemical process, extracting iron of high purity from iron ore using substantially less energy than conventional smelting, a result it has used to argue for the technology's readiness. Helios's work targets the most resource-intensive input for any lunar base: locally produced oxygen, which is heavy and expensive to ship from Earth.