China unveils world’s first lunar brick maker

China has demonstrated how lunar soil can be transformed into construction bricks, opening new possibilities for future human activity on the moon. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

The Chinese space-tech lab created the machine, described as the world’s first proof-of-concept device of its kind, which harnesses concentrated solar energy to reach temperatures above 1,300°C, sufficient to melt moon dust and form it into shaped bricks.

These bricks could be used to build roads, landing platforms, and structures on the lunar surface, providing vital infrastructure for research bases and long-term exploration missions.

The technology relies on a parabolic reflector that concentrates sunlight and transmits it through a fibre-optic bundle, producing 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 carried out 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 operational by 2035, with expansion in the 2040s.

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