Building Moon Homes with LEGO-like Lunar Bricks: China's Futuristic Vision
Imagine stacking bricks on the moon like building a giant LEGO set! 🌕🧱 That's the exciting future Chinese scientists are working towards.
Researchers at the National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, have developed innovative \"lunar soil bricks.\" These aren't your ordinary bricks—they're crafted from materials that closely mimic moon dust and are over three times stronger than traditional bricks we use on Earth! 💪
What's even cooler? They've taken inspiration from ancient Chinese mortise-and-tenon techniques, a bit like the original interlocking system before LEGO was even a thing. This means the bricks fit together perfectly without the need for extra materials, making construction on the moon much easier. Think of it as life-sized LEGO but for lunar living! 🏠🌌
Testing the Bricks in Space
This Friday night, China is set to launch the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft. Its mission? Deliver these super-strong bricks to the China Space Station for some out-of-this-world experiments. 🚀
Space is harsh—temperatures on the moon swing from a scorching 180°C during the day to a freezing -190°C at night. 🌞❄️ Plus, there's cosmic radiation and moonquakes to consider. The scientists want to see if these bricks can handle the extreme conditions. They'll test their strength, thermal performance, and resilience against radiation.
Over the next three years, the bricks will be exposed to space. Each year, a sample will return to Earth for analysis. The first batch is expected back by the end of 2025. This could be a giant leap towards building real homes on the moon! 🏘️🌖
A Step Towards Lunar Living
In October, China unveiled a national plan for space science development through 2050. Part of this plan includes constructing an international lunar research station between 2028 and 2035. The dream of living on the moon is getting closer, and these lunar bricks might just be the building blocks we need! 🚀🌠
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
