At the 2025 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) showcased a revolutionary machine designed to turn moon dust into construction materials—a critical step toward establishing permanent lunar infrastructure. The device, hailed as the world's first of its kind, uses concentrated solar energy to melt simulated lunar soil at temperatures exceeding 1,300°C, producing bricks for roads and habitats.
Sunlight as a Lunar Tool
The machine employs a parabolic reflector and fiber optic bundle to focus sunlight with over 3,000 times normal intensity, bypassing the need for Earth-transported energy sources. 'This innovation addresses the logistical challenges of building on the moon,' a DSEL representative explained. Researchers rigorously tested the system using multiple simulated soil types to ensure adaptability to the moon's varied terrain.
Building Toward the Future
This breakthrough supports China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, which aims to establish a robotic and crewed base near the lunar south pole by 2035. The ILRS will serve as a hub for scientific collaboration, with an expanded phase planned for the 2040s. Lunar bricks could reduce reliance on costly Earth-made materials, accelerating humanity's extraterrestrial ambitions.
Other technologies debuted at the event included reusable rocket heat shields and advanced brain-computer interfaces, underscoring China's growing role in cutting-edge manufacturing.
