The machine concentrates sunlight using a parabolic reflector, transmitting the energy through a fiber optic bundle. At the output end, the solar flux can reach over 3,000 times normal intensity, producing temperatures above 1,300 degrees Celsius. These conditions allow lunar regolith to melt and be molded into solid bricks suitable for roads and structures.
DSEL scientists created several simulated lunar soil types to test the device under varied conditions. The team reports successful trials, confirming the design can adapt to different regolith compositions that future missions may encounter.
Bricks manufactured on the lunar surface are expected to support construction of research stations, infrastructure, and other facilities as part of China's long-term exploration strategy. The International Lunar Research Station, led by China, is planned in two phases: a basic outpost near the Moon's south pole by 2035, and an expanded complex during the 2040s.
The brick maker was one of several high-tech innovations showcased at the convention. Other technologies included a reusable lightweight rocket heat shield, a computational-lithography platform for semiconductor fabrication, a non-invasive brain-computer interface system, and a universal robotics foundation.
Related Links
Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL)
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more
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