Chinese scientists have developed a groundbreaking 3D printer that uses lunar soil and solar energy to create bricks, a significant advancement expected to streamline and reduce the costs of building habitats and infrastructure on the Moon. This innovative system, developed by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei, represents a crucial step towards establishing sustainable extraterrestrial bases.
The device concentrates sunlight to melt lunar regolith, the loose soil and rock fragments covering the Moon's surface, at temperatures exceeding 1,300 degrees Celsius. This process creates dense, durable bricks without the need for additional binding agents. These bricks are designed to provide essential shielding for pressurized modules against the harsh lunar environment, including radiation and micrometeorite impacts, thereby negating the necessity of transporting heavy construction materials from Earth. The self-sufficiency of this system is a key advantage, aligning with China's ambitious plans for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which aims to establish a scientific experimental facility on the lunar surface and in orbit, with a basic model projected by 2035 and an extended model in the 2040s.
The lunar brick-making machine is a testament to progress in In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), a concept vital for reducing the cost and logistical complexity of space missions by leveraging local materials. The challenges of lunar construction are considerable, including extreme temperature fluctuations and a lack of atmosphere offering no protection from radiation or micrometeoroid impacts. Lunar regolith itself, while abundant, is abrasive and can pose difficulties for machinery. The Chinese research team spent approximately two years developing the brick-making machine, tackling challenges such as efficient energy transmission and adapting to the variability of lunar soil composition across different regions by creating multiple simulated soil samples.
While the solar-powered brick maker is a significant breakthrough, experts note that lunar bricks alone are insufficient for full-scale habitation. They are envisioned as protective outer layers, to be integrated with rigid structural modules and inflatable shells. Further advancements are underway to create a comprehensive lunar construction system, incorporating automated assembly and validation processes tailored for the lunar surface. The successful testing of simulated lunar soil bricks aboard China's space station in November 2024, as part of space exposure experiments, further validates the potential of this technology for future lunar endeavors.