China has achieved a significant milestone in its lunar exploration program with the successful return of experimental ‘lunar soil bricks’ from space. These bricks, exposed to the extreme conditions of space for a year, arrived on Earth aboard the Shenzhou XXI spacecraft last week. Initial inspections confirmed their structural integrity, marking a crucial step toward China’s goal of constructing infrastructure on the moon by 2035. The experiment, led by Ding Lieyun of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, began in November 2024 when the Tianzhou 8 cargo ship transported simulated lunar soil samples to China’s space station. A total of 74 bricks were mounted on the station’s exterior exposure platform for a three-year study. The bricks, crafted from volcanic ash from Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, mimic the composition of lunar regolith. They exhibit triple the compressive strength of conventional bricks and remain stable under the moon’s extreme temperature fluctuations and cosmic radiation. The team employed traditional Chinese masonry techniques and developed a robotic system for assembly, akin to LEGO blocks, with 3D printing used for structural reinforcement. Future analysis of the bricks will provide insights into their long-term durability in the lunar environment, laying the groundwork for extraterrestrial construction.
Chinese ‘lunar soil bricks’ return from space, paving way for construction on moon
