What To Know
- With its Artemis program, for example, NASA plans to land astronauts on the Moon by the end of this decade with the long-term goal of maintaining a continuous human presence.
- Of course, a sustainable presence on the Moon will require innovative solutions to overcome logistical and material challenges, such as transporting building materials from Earth, which brings us back to those famous LEGO-inspired space bricks.
- ESA Although slightly rougher and limited to a single color, an elegant space gray, these bricks fit together in the same way as the classic LEGO bricks.
Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) are exploring innovative ways to build a future lunar base using materials available on the Moon itself. Inspired by LEGO constructions, they have experimented with 3D printing “space bricks” from meteorite dust.
Sustainable settlement on the Moon
Space exploration is experiencing a new phase of excitement with space agencies and private companies seriously considering the establishment of permanent bases on the Moon. This renewed interest is fueled by several factors, including scientific research, the potential exploitation of lunar resources, and preparation for future manned missions to Mars. With its Artemis program, for example, NASA plans to land astronauts on the Moon by the end of this decade with the long-term goal of maintaining a continuous human presence. At the same time, companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing technologies to facilitate these missions. Of course, a sustainable presence on the Moon will require innovative solutions to overcome logistical and material challenges, such as transporting building materials from Earth, which brings us back to those famous LEGO-inspired space bricks.
3D Print LEGO-Inspired Bricks Using Meteorite Dust
ESA’s idea is based on a simple but ingenious logic: instead of transporting building materials from Earth, why not use those already present on the Moon ? Before considering this idea, it is essential to conduct experiments here on Earth. As a reminder, the lunar surface is covered with a material called regolithcomposed of fragments of rocks and minerals. Unfortunately, the amount of lunar regolith available on Earth is insufficient for testing. To get around this problem, scientists at ESA have therefore created a simulated version of the lunar regolith by crushing a meteorite that is 100 years old. 4.5 billion years. This meteorite dust then served as the basis for a mixture used for 3D printing space bricks.
Credits: ESA Although slightly rougher and limited to a single color, an elegant space gray, these bricks fit together in the same way as the classic LEGO bricks. This flexibility allows ESA space engineers to build and test various structures to explore the possibilities offered by this new building material. This playful and flexible approach therefore allows scientists to learn through play, just like children, by encouraging creativity and allowing ideas to be tested quickly and easily. To inspire children and encourage them to take an interest in space, some of these space bricks are also on display in selected LEGO stores. For some, this fascination with space could mark the start of an imaginary journey that will one day lead them to become space engineers.
