Image: Lego
Space exploration toys are no stranger to astronauts, but now Lego is offering a glimpse into the future of lunar construction. The Danish company partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) to create Lego bricks from actual meteorite dust! These limited-edition bricks, on display at Lego stores until September 20 (including the Manhattan flagship), are more than just a cool collectible.
This project is a "proof of concept" for using moondust to build structures on the Moon. Launching building materials from Earth is incredibly expensive. Imagine the cost savings and efficiency of using readily available lunar resources!
The layer of rock and dust on the Moon's surface, called lunar regolith, has long been considered a potential building material for future colonies. Regolith is abundant and similar to materials humans have used for construction for millennia (think: mudbricks and adobe). However, obtaining real lunar regolith for experimentation is tricky. ESA scientists cleverly created a substitute by grinding up an ancient meteorite. The resulting dust was then mixed and 3D-printed into Lego-shaped bricks—voila, "moon bricks!" They function just like regular Legos, but only come in a unique space-gray colour (obviously).
The dream of a lunar base is closer than ever. NASA, along with the Italian Space Agency and Thales Alenia Space, is developing the first permanent human outpost on the Moon, with a projected completion date in the 2030s. Designs for these lunar habitats range from mobile home-like structures to inflatable villages.