Space news. Bricks made of moon dust

A new material for building in space.

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Construction Technology (KICT) have developed an innovative technology that could change the approach to building on the Moon and other planets. This technology utilizes lunar dust that has been turned into solid bricks using.... microwave radiation! This discovery brings us closer to the possibility of creating autonomous settlements beyond Earth.

How do “moon bricks” work?

Research has shown that the surface of the Moon is covered with a layer of regolith - finely dispersed dust and rocks. To create a durable building material, scientists decided to “bake” this dust under the influence of microwave waves. Like a home microwave, a special device heats regolith to a high temperature, which causes its melting and sintering. The resulting bricks become strong and able to withstand the harsh conditions of the space environment.

Why is this important for space exploration?

Transporting building materials from Earth to the Moon or Mars is incredibly expensive. But if local resources, such as lunar dust, are utilized, it could make the construction process much cheaper and easier. Such technology would make it possible to create buildings that are protected from radiation, extreme temperatures, and other space threats right on site, using available materials.

What are the advantages of the microwave firing method?

The method proposed by scientists is characterized by simplicity and high efficiency. Microwave radiation not only heats the regolith quickly, but also distributes the heat evenly, which makes it possible to create strong blocks of dust in just a few minutes. This means that construction can go quickly, and no complicated and expensive tools are required.

What's next.

Developing microwave bricks from lunar dust is an important step towards establishing permanent bases on the Moon, and possibly Mars. Such bases could be the beginning of future colonies from which it will be easier to explore space and expand human presence beyond Earth.

Perhaps in the coming decades we will see the first “lunar cities” built from local materials using technologies like microwave firing of regolith.