Scientists plans toy-like ‘space bricks’ to build houses on Moon
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New York: The European Space Agency (ESA) is working on an innovative approach to construct structures on the Moon from space dust, NDTV reported citing space.com.
Scientists are mulling over fashioning space dust into Lego-like interlocking bricks, which can easily be assembled and removed like plastic construction toys of the Denmark brand.
Alongside addressing various construction challenges, the novel idea will help raise cost effective structures using materials available on the lunar surface.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is considering to create bricks out of the regolith--the loose, fragmented material covering the Moon's surface.
Technique involves a 3D printing method of "sintering" where the regolith will be heated below its melting point to fuse the particles together.
ESA hopes to make the bricks on the Moon itself, to avoid transporting building materials from Earth.
Technique, leveraging on modular, has the advantage of using Lego-like bricks, which can be easily connected and reconfigured.
Like traditional Lego bricks, lunar bricks will help raise flexible and scalable building designs.
Alongside tackling harsh and unpredictable lunar environs, these bricks will enable astronauts quickly raising and dismantling structures as they needed.
The process of sintering where the regolith is melted will ensure the structure are sturdy.
The interlocking designs of the bricks will enhance structural stability to withstand the extreme conditions on the Moon.
Space agencies across the world are increasingly focusing on developing technologies for setting up dwellings on the Moon.
The Lunar Homestead project on US space agency NASA’s the Artemis programme aims by 2040 to develop habitable structures for prolonged human presence and scientific endeavours on the Moon.
