On July 28th， according to reports from Science and Technology Daily， China has successfully developed its first lunar soil brick-making machine at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory. This innovative machine utilizes concentrated solar energy to melt and shape lunar soil， paving the way for future construction of houses on the Moon using local materials.
Yang Honglun， an engineer at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory’s Future Technology Institute， stated that the development of the lunar soil brick-making machine took approximately two years from conceptualization to prototype completion， involving critical stages of feasibility assessment， product development， and process iteration. This extended development period underscores the complexity of translating a novel concept into a functional technological solution for extraterrestrial applications.
The working principle of the lunar soil brick-making machine involves a parabolic reflector to highly concentrate solar energy. This concentrated energy is then transmitted via fiber optic bundles， achieving a solar concentration ratio of over 3000 times at the bundle’s end. Through a precise optical system， sunlight is focused onto a small point， rapidly elevating its temperature to over 1300℃， thereby melting the lunar soil. The successful achievement of such high temperatures is crucial for the effective transformation of lunar regolith into a usable building material.
Furthermore， the lunar soil bricks are composed of 100% in-situ lunar resources， requiring no additional binding agents. The inherent properties of lunar soil， such as high strength and density， make these bricks suitable not only for constructing habitats but also for building infrastructure like equipment platforms and roadways. The ability to utilize local resources significantly reduces the logistical challenges and costs associated with transporting building materials from Earth.
However， it is important to note that in the extreme conditions of the lunar surface， characterized by high vacuum and low gravity， lunar soil bricks alone may not be sufficient for fully independent human habitation structures. Their primary role is envisaged for the surface protection of modules， necessitating integration with other construction methods， such as rigid structural modules or flexible habitat modules， to achieve complete lunar housing solutions. This highlights the need for a multi-faceted approach to extraterrestrial construction.
Additionally， it is noteworthy that Chinese scientists have already produced the first batch of “lunar soil bricks” using the lunar soil brick-making machine， manufactured by firing simulated lunar soil compositions. This initial production marks a significant milestone in demonstrating the practical application of the developed technology.
The “lunar soil bricks” feature a mortise and tenon interlocking structure. Their density is comparable to ordinary bricks， but their compressive strength is more than three times that of regular red bricks and concrete bricks， capable of withstanding over 1 ton of weight per square centimeter. This exceptional strength indicates their potential for load-bearing applications in space construction.
To further validate the performance of the “lunar soil bricks，” the first sample is scheduled to be transported to the China Space Station aboard the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft in July of this year. Following the completion of in-space experiments， the first “lunar soil brick” is expected to return to Earth by the end of 2025. This mission represents a critical step in testing the durability and effectiveness of lunar construction materials in a real space environment.
