At the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei in the Chinese mainland's eastern Anhui Province, researchers from the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) unveiled the world’s first proof-of-concept lunar brick maker. This innovative machine uses focused sunlight to heat lunar soil above 1,300 °C, melting dust into solid bricks on the moon.
Using a parabolic reflector and a fiber optic bundle, the device concentrates solar energy to more than 3,000 times Earth-normal intensity, according to DSEL. With multiple simulated lunar soil tests behind it, the machine can adapt to different regolith compositions and produce uniform, load-bearing bricks.
Built bricks could pave roads and support habitats, laying the foundation for China’s planned International Lunar Research Station. The station, split between the lunar surface and orbit, will roll out in two phases: a basic model near the lunar south pole by 2035, and an extended facility in the 2040s.
The unveiling is part of a broader showcase of emerging technologies at the four-day manufacturing event. Other highlights include:
- An ultra-lightweight reusable heat shield for rockets
- A computational-lithography platform accelerating chipmaking
- A non-invasive brain-computer-interface acquisition system
- A universal technology foundation for intelligent robots
With these breakthroughs, China’s space-tech sector is racing to turn science fiction into reality—and to shape the future of deep-space exploration.
Reference(s):
Chinese lab unveils moon brick maker for lunar facility construction
cgtn.com
