China tests bricks made from lunar soil, paving the way for base construction

Brick samples made from various components found in lunar soil will be transported to the Tiangong space station by the soon-to-be-launched Tianzhou 8 spacecraft, according to China's state broadcaster CCTV.

The bricks will undergo three years of space endurance testing, including exposure to ultraviolet and cosmic rays, and extreme daily temperature swings. The testing will test the bricks’ durability and strength in harsh environments and how the material performs in space.

The experiment was designed to provide insight into which composition and which method of making bricks from lunar soil is best suited for building structures on the Moon.

According to CCTV, one method of creating these bricks involves heating the material to 1,000 degrees Celsius using electromagnetic induction in a sintering furnace. This process fuses the material into solid structures, creating an 18-centimeter-long brick in just 10 minutes.

The idea of ​​making bricks from lunar soil was conceived in the context of the cost of sending materials to the Moon would be extremely expensive. Therefore, using resources right on the spot could significantly reduce costs and increase the capacity of lunar exploration.

China is planning to build a base on the Moon with partners in the 2030s called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). In preparation, the country is planning to test 3D-printed tiles on the Moon using the Chang'e 8 lander and rover. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2028.

In addition to China, both NASA and the European Space Agency are working on creating bricks from lunar regolith simulants. NASA has previously tested cement-mixing technology on the International Space Station (ISS), focusing on creating materials for potential space habitats. However, China’s upcoming experiment is expected to be the first to directly test the durability of bricks made from lunar soil in space.