China is set to launch a mission in 2028 that will use lunar soil to 3D-print bricks, marking a significant step towards building a base on the moon. The Chang’e 8 spacecraft will utilize in-situ resource utilization, reducing the need for transporting water and other materials from Earth.
According to Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, the system harnesses sunlight to melt lunar soil at high temperatures, allowing it to be shaped into bricks using 3D printing technology. This approach enables China to utilize resources found on the moon without relying on Earth-based supplies.
A successful test of this technology could pave the way for more ambitious construction endeavors on the moon. China has already sent a sample of bricks made from lunar soil simulant to its Tiangong space station, where they will be tested for durability in outer space conditions.
The mission follows several successful orbiter, lander, and rover missions carried out by China across the past two decades, including the Chang’e 6 far side sample return last year. The country aims to land its astronauts on the moon before 2030 and is pushing forward with this technology as part of its lunar exploration efforts.
The use of in-situ resource utilization has the potential to significantly reduce costs associated with sending materials to the moon, making it a crucial step towards establishing a sustainable presence on the lunar surface.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/china-to-3d-print-bricks-on-the-moon-using-lunar-dirt-in-2028-to-pave-way-for-future-base-video