Key Takeaways:
– China progresses in lunar base development with brick-testing experiment in space.
– The prototype bricks are designed to handle the Moon’s harsh conditions.
– This testing forms part of an ambitious lunar habitation plan set to unfold by 2035.
– The bricks are crafted from earthly materials that emulate lunar soil.
– China’s moon base project is a collaboration with Russia, involving many international parties.
China Shifts Up A Gear in Lunar Base Quest
Making significant strides toward the construction of a lunar base, China is preparing to test if bricks for the construction can be made from the Moon’s soil. This Friday, an in-space experiment will launch, marking a pivotal step in Beijing’s ambitious moon mission.
China Aims at Building Lunar Base with Moon Soil
In a mission that seeks to make human settlement on the Moon a reality by 2030, brick samples are ready for lift-off aboard a cargo rocket bound for China’s Tiangong space station. China aims to build a permanent base on Moon by 2035. The challenge is immense, as they need to deal with cosmic radiation, temperature extremes, and moonquakes, not to mention the hefty price tag attached to the transportation of building materials to the Moon.
Could The Moon Itself Provide The Solution?
To address these issues, scientists from Wuhan’s central province university believe that the Moon can provide the required construction materials. The team has developed prototype bricks using a range of earthbound materials like basalt, mimicking lunar soil. Once they reach the Tiangong space station, these test bricks will undergo extensive testing.
Durable Materials for the Moon’s Extremes
Zhou Cheng, a revered professor at Wuhan’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology, explains that the experiment is mainly about exposure. Essentially, the materials are left in space, examining their durability and performance under extreme environment conditions. With temperature fluctuations between 180 and -190 degrees Celsius on the Moon’s surface and the added hurdle of cosmic radiation, micrometeorites, and moonquakes, the challenges are indeed daunting.
Three Years of Lunar Brick Testing
The exposure experiment will span three years, with samples sent back annually for testing. Zhou’s team produced the prototype bricks after studying soil samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 probe. The resulting bricks, black and thrice as strong as standard bricks, lock together without a binding agent.
Building the Future with Lunar Soil
The team envisions using a ‘Lunar Spider’, a 3D printing robot, to erect structures in space. In future construction scenarios, Zhou expects to use on-site resources to directly form the bricks from lunar soil, obviating the need to ship materials from Earth.
A Global Race to Build the First Lunar Base
Other countries are also eager to establish lunar bases. China’s prospective Moon outpost, the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), is being jointly developed with Russia. Multiple countries and international organizations support this initiative.
Meanwhile, the United States anticipates sending humans back to the Moon in 2026 and subsequently establishing a base despite delays in its Artemis program. The European Space Agency has also been actively exploring lunar construction techniques, drawing inspiration from Lego-like structures.
While building a lunar base is no small feat, these experiments present promising prospects for future lunar habitation. With the global interest and drive, our moon bases might turn from a dream into reality in just a few short decades.