Chinese scientists have created a groundbreaking machine capable of turning moon soil into sturdy bricks, bringing humanity one step closer to building permanent structures on the lunar surface. The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) in Hefei unveiled this innovative 3D printing system that uses concentrated solar energy to mold lunar soil without any additives.
The machine works by focusing sunlight through a parabolic reflector, amplifying its intensity by 3,000 times through a fiber-optic system. This creates an ultra-hot beam exceeding 1,300°C—hot enough to melt lunar soil into solid bricks. According to senior engineer Yang Honglun, these bricks could be used for construction, roads, and even mechanical platforms in future moon bases.
After two years of research, China plans to send samples of these space-made bricks to its Tiangong space station in November 2024 for further testing. This breakthrough could dramatically reduce the need to transport building materials from Earth, making lunar colonization more feasible.
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