China Showcases World’s 1st Lunar Brick Maker

China has unveiled breakthrough technology capable of turning lunar soil into construction bricks, paving the way for future human settlements on the moon, according to Xinhua, a TV BRICS partner.

Developed by a Chinese space technology laboratory, the machine is described as the world’s first proof-of-concept device of its kind. 

It uses concentrated solar energy to reach temperatures above 1,300°C, hot enough to melt moon dust and mould it into durable bricks.

The resulting material could provide essential infrastructure for future missions, from building landing pads and roads to erecting research stations and long-term bases on the lunar surface.

The system works through a parabolic reflector that concentrates sunlight, transmitting it via fibre optics at intensities over 3,000 times stronger than normal. 

To ensure adaptability, researchers tested the process on several types of simulated lunar soil before finalising the design.

The innovation is directly tied to China’s International Lunar Research Station project, which aims to establish a scientific base near the moon’s south pole. 

A basic version is expected by 2035, with further expansion planned for the 2040s.