Lunar projects face a significant challenge when it comes to shipping items to the moon. The cost of lifting off Earth every gram of cargo sent to the lunar surface is enormous, making it a heavy burden to carry. Utilizing materials found on the moon itself could be beneficial for future lunar missions, especially when building lunar habitats. Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) have come up with an innovative idea to address this challenge: creating LEGO-like bricks from space dust.
Although these bricks are not made from actual moondust, but rather a simulant taken from a meteorite found in Northwest Africa, they are still an important innovation in lunar construction. These space bricks were created using a 3D printer and are rougher than traditional LEGO bricks, but they can be stacked and assembled in various configurations, allowing scientists to test different construction methods and techniques. This not only helps in better understanding the challenges of building with moon materials but also in determining the most effective construction methods to use.
The ESA’s moon bricks will be showcased in select LEGO stores from June 20 to September 20, allowing the public to see this exciting scientific breakthrough firsthand. This project paves the way for potential future moon-base construction using locally sourced materials, which could significantly reduce transportation costs and make these missions more viable. The use of space dust as a building material opens up new possibilities for lunar exploration and colonization that were previously unimaginable.
