A team from the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei, China has made a groundbreaking breakthrough in lunar brick-making, paving the way for building structures on the Moon using local materials. The innovative system uses 3D printing and concentrated solar energy to melt lunar soil into high-strength blocks.
The key component of the process is a parabolic reflector that concentrates sunlight onto a single point, reaching temperatures exceeding 1,300 degrees Celsius – sufficient to melt lunar soil without additives. This enables the creation of bricks with high density and resistance, suitable for lunar infrastructure such as platforms, roads, and protective layers for habitats.
To adapt to the diverse mineral composition of lunar regolith, the team developed simulated samples for comprehensive testing. After two years of prototype development, they overcame challenges like efficient energy transmission and material transport.
However, building habitable habitats on the Moon requires more than just lunar bricks. The system is designed to be part of a comprehensive construction process, including assembling architectural components, evaluating structural integrity in real conditions, and integrating with lunar construction robots.
The project is part of China’s ambitious International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative, which aims to build facilities on the lunar surface and in orbit. The station will have two phases: a basic model at the south pole planned for 2035, followed by an expanded model in the 2040s.
In November 2024, bricks made with simulated lunar soil were sent to the Chinese space station as part of space tests aimed at evaluating the mechanical properties, thermal performance, and radiation resistance of these materials. This data is crucial to validating the feasibility of permanent lunar constructions.
Source: https://noticiasambientales.com/innovation/china-develops-new-technology-to-build-bricks-on-the-moon-for-future-habitable-bases