China has unveiled a groundbreaking lunar soil brick-making machine that could revolutionize construction on the moon. Introduced by Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, the machine uses lunar regolith—the loose soil and rocks on the moon’s surface—to create building materials directly on the lunar landscape.
Harnessing solar energy and optical fiber transmission, the machine reaches temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees Celsius, melting the lunar soil completely. The molten material is then utilized in 3D printing to produce bricks of various sizes. “This method eliminates the need to transport water or additional binding agents from Earth, achieving true in-situ resource utilization,” Wu explained during the opening of an exhibition in Beijing celebrating two decades of China’s lunar exploration.
The exhibition, jointly hosted by the National Museum of China and the China National Space Administration, offers a comprehensive look at the country’s lunar missions. For the first time, lunar samples from both the near and far sides of the moon, collected by the Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 missions, are displayed together.
Visitors can explore hundreds of artifacts, photographs, and documents tracing the history of China’s lunar exploration program since its official approval in 2004. The exhibition runs for two months, providing an in-depth insight into past achievements and future plans.
Looking ahead, Wu announced that the upcoming lunar projects Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 are scheduled for 2026 and 2028, respectively. Chang’e-7 aims to land at the lunar south pole to search for water, while Chang’e-8 will focus on establishing communication systems and energy infrastructure in the same region. “We hope to engage more countries, international research institutions, and foreign scientists in the construction of this entire project,” Wu said, emphasizing international cooperation in these ambitious lunar endeavors.
