In a major breakthrough for space exploration, Chinese scientists have developed a 3D printing machine capable of producing bricks using lunar soil, powered entirely by solar energy. This innovation marks a significant step forward in the quest to build permanent structures on the Moon.
The achievement comes from the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) in Hefei, eastern China. After two years of dedicated research and development, the team has successfully engineered a cutting-edge in-situ 3D printing system that uses moon soil—also known as regolith—to create construction bricks.
According to Yang Hongluan, senior engineer at DSEL, the machine harnesses solar energy through a parabolic reflector that concentrates sunlight and transfers it via a fiber optic bundle. The focused light increases intensity by 3,000 times, generating temperatures that exceed 1,300°C, hot enough to melt lunar soil into brick form.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this technology is that it requires no additional binding materials—the bricks are made entirely from Moon soil. These bricks could be used in the future to construct residential units, research labs, equipment platforms, and even roads on the Moon.
DSEL has confirmed that test samples of the bricks were sent to China’s space station in November 2024 for further experiments to assess their durability and potential for large-scale lunar construction.
This development aligns with global efforts from NASA, ESA, and China to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. China’s solar-powered brick-making system could play a key role in turning the dream of lunar habitats into reality.
