It was 1969 that humans first set foot on the Moon. Now, over 50 years later we are setting sights on building lunar bases. The ability to complete that goal is dependent on either transporting significant amounts of material to the Moon to construct bases or somehow utilising raw lunar materials. A team of Chinese researchers have developed a technique to create bricks from material that is very similar to the soil found on the Moon. The hope is that the lunar soil can in the future, be used to build bricks on the Moon.
As we step out into the Solar System the Moon is the perfect starting point. Lunar bases are an essential part in our longer term goals providing a lower gravity launch environment. With space agencies and private companies working on a sustainable presence on the Moon the prospect of a lunar base is really picking up momentum. The Artemis program hopes to return humans to the Moon by the mid 2020’s and ultimately create a permanent presence. It would serve as a scientific research location, centre for extraction of lunar material and a stepping stone for missions to Mars.
Such a base would likely be built near the lunar south pole where there is plenty of water ice in the deep shadowy craters. The ice can be readily turned into drinking water, oxygen and even rocket fuel. It’s not only NASA driving this development, private companies like Space X and Blue Origin are also working on aspects of the missions.
The team of researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology have recently released a video clip revealing their results. The team led by Ding Lieyun have utilised substances similar to lunar soil to create lunar bricks that can be used to build structures on the Moon. The bricks are black and the team claim three times stronger than standard construction concrete bricks.
Five lunar soil compositions were simulated with a number of different process used to attempt to create the bricks. The different techniques will enable the team to gain sufficient scientific data to assess the viability of the different types of soil. The soil variations that the team explored simulate the different materials found near the Chang’e-5 landing site, some basaltic, others mostly anorthosite.
The bricks will now be tested in a number of different ways to assess their strength and properties. They will also explore any likely degradation in the properties due to the lunar environment. The vacuum, extreme temperature changes and high levels of cosmic radiation. The bricks will now be sent to the Chinese space station aboard the Tianzhou-8 spacecraft to continue the analysis following exposure to cosmic radiation and returned by the end of 2025.
Source : Chinese Researchers Develop ‘Lunar Bricks’ for Future Lunar Base Construction