Oriented on making people closer

China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) has developed and tested the country’s first machine capable of producing bricks from lunar soil using concentrated solar energy, Science and Technology Daily reported.

The device melts and molds lunar regolith, paving the way for future construction of lunar habitats using locally sourced materials.

The project took about two years to complete, going through stages of concept validation, prototype development and technological refinement. The team employed thin-film filters, Fresnel lenses, and additive manufacturing techniques such as sintering and selective laser melting. A newly developed fiber-optic bundle capable of delivering solar energy with a concentration ratio exceeding 3,000 helped overcome issues of overheating and inefficiency.

Researchers tested several types of simulated lunar soil, including basaltic and anorthositic materials. Sunlight is collected via a parabolic mirror and transferred through optical fibers into a melting chamber, where temperatures exceed 1,300 degrees Celsius.

The bricks produced are composed entirely of lunar soil without additives. They feature high strength and density, making them suitable for building habitats, platforms, road surfaces, and other infrastructure on the Moon.

However, due to the Moon’s extreme conditions—vacuum and low gravity—the bricks alone will not suffice for construction, said engineer Yang Honglun. They will need to be combined with rigid modules, inflatable structures and other advanced technologies.

Yang said overcoming these technical barriers brings humanity closer to realizing the dream of building lunar structures from local resources.

Photo: DSEL