
China is building an international lunar research station on the moon. Scientists have developed a significant amount of materials to develop a potential building using lunar soil to create bricks. These lunar soil bricks will be tested in the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship at the Chinese space station.
This will involve utilising lunar soil, solar energy, and minerals to build; it would reduce the need to transport prefabricated materials from the earth. Huazhong University of Science and Technology Professor Zhou Cheng feigned that the lunar soil bricks are much stronger than the ones used here on Earth. The bricks embody a “sunmao” (mortise and tenon) structure, which is beneficial for assembling future lunar bases.
Read more: SUPARCO joins China's Chang'E 8 mission for Pakistan's first lunar exploration in 2028
This type of construction technique will utilise over 7,000 years of history of China consisting of wooden architecture. The Forbidden City can be a key model for its durability and design. Scientists are looking for ancient techniques that can withstand the durability of the moon’s harsh environment.
Testing timeframe for China's Lunar soil bricks
The tests that will be conducted on the bricks will be exposed to environmental conditions that are similar to the lunar surface. Bricks will be constructed with five simulated lunar soil compositions.
The testing time frame for the Lunar soil bricks will be three years, and a sample panel of it will be returned to Earth annually for further experiments.