China may use Moon's soil to make bricks for lunar base and host humans
However, there are substantial challenges. Any structure on the Moon will face harsh conditions, including intense cosmic radiation, extreme temperature changes, and moonquakes. Transporting building materials from Earth to Moon is also very expensive. Scientists in Wuhan, China, believe that using lunar soil could be a solution.
Researchers at Wuhan’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology have created prototype bricks from materials similar to lunar soil, such as basalt. These samples will be tested for their durability and performance in space. «It's mainly exposure,» said Professor Zhou Cheng. «To put it simply, we put (the material) in space and let it sit there… to see whether its durability, its performance will degrade under the extreme environment.»
The temperature on the Moon can fluctuate from 180°C (356°F) to -190°C (-310°F). With no atmosphere, the Moon is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation and micrometeorites, while moonquakes could weaken any structure. The experiment will last three years, with samples brought back annually for analysis.
Zhou's team developed the prototype bricks after studying soil brought back by China's Chang'e-5 mission, the first in 40 years to bring Moon samples to Earth. Their bricks are three times stronger than standard ones and can interlock without glue. The team is also developing the “Lunar Spider,” a 3D printing robot designed to build structures in space.
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