Chinese scientists have begun developing special "moon bricks" that could form the basis for buildings on the moon in the future. These bricks are made from material resembling lunar dust and soil, which would allow them to be produced directly on the moon, reducing the cost of transporting building materials from Earth.
The project, led by Chou Cheng of the National Center for Technological Innovation of Digital Buildings, uses a technique called "sintering". The material is heated to a temperature below its melting point, which causes the particles to bond tightly. The resulting bricks achieve three times the durability of ordinary bricks on Earth and are tested for mechanical, thermal and radiation properties to withstand the extreme conditions of the Moon.
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Research into these durable building materials is part of China's 2028-2035 space program, which aims to lay the groundwork for habitation on the moon. If this project succeeds, the moon bricks could be the first step towards future dwellings on the moon.
