Building with Lunar ‘LEGOs’: ESA’s Innovative Approach to Moon Habitat Construction

Lunar habitats construction presents a major challenge in space exploration, as the logistics of using moon materials are still uncertain. The high cost of lifting cargo into space against Earth’s gravity is a significant obstacle to shipping materials to the moon. Every gram of material sent to the moon must be carefully considered to minimize the burden.

To address this challenge, scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) have recently started experimenting with a unique idea using space dust to create LEGO-like bricks for lunar construction. Although lunar regolith is too scarce and valuable to use, the scientists have used a simulant made from regolith taken from a meteorite that was discovered in Northwest Africa in 2000. The 3D printed bricks resemble classic 2×4 LEGOs, allowing builders to stack and assemble them like traditional LEGOs.

The ESA’s moon bricks will be showcased to the public at select LEGO stores from June 20 to Sept. 20, offering people a glimpse into the future of lunar construction possibilities. While the space bricks are rougher in texture than regular LEGOs, they serve as a valuable tool for scientists to test construction methods and determine the most effective techniques for building structures with the available lunar materials. Aidan Cowley, ESA Science Officer, expressed excitement about the project, stating that it was both fun and beneficial in understanding the limitations of these techniques. This project represents a significant step forward in our understanding of how materials from the moon could be used for construction purposes, paving the way for sustainable building methods for future lunar missions.