China has demonstrated how lunar soil can be transformed into construction bricks, a technology that could pave the way for future human activity on the moon, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.
The Chinese space-tech lab created what it describes as the world’s first proof-of-concept device of its kind. The machine harnesses concentrated solar energy to reach temperatures above 1,300°C, high enough to melt moon dust and form it into shaped bricks.
These bricks could be used to build roads, landing platforms, and other structures on the lunar surface, providing vital infrastructure for research bases and long-term exploration missions.
The technology uses a parabolic reflector that concentrates sunlight and transmits it through a fibre-optic bundle, producing a solar intensity more than 3,000 times stronger than normal. Researchers developed multiple simulated lunar soils to ensure the device’s adaptability to different types of regolith and conducted extensive testing before finalising the design.
The innovation is closely linked to China’s International Lunar Research Station project, which envisions building a scientific base at the moon’s south pole. The plan foresees a basic version of the station operational by 2035, with an expansion in the 2040s.
