By: Alejandra Legarda-periodista

Building on the Moon using lunar dust, known as regolith, is becoming a reality thanks to innovations in sintering technologies. Lunar dust is an abundant raw material, and research is underway to explore how it can be used to create structures that enable the construction of lunar bases. One key approach is microwave sintering, a process that turns lunar dust into solid bricks without the need for large amounts of water or cement, which is crucial in the Moon's dry environment.

This type of sustainable construction would allow future lunar colonies to utilize local materials, reducing the need to transport building materials from Earth, which is costly and impractical. The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA are both investigating these techniques and have successfully created simulations in Earth-based laboratories using synthetic lunar dust.

The creation of lunar bricks through sintering involves heating the lunar regolith with microwaves until the particles fuse, forming a solid structure. This process could enable the construction of habitats, roads, and other essential infrastructure for human permanence on the Moon.

Additionally, the initiative aims to leverage other methods, such as 3D printing, to create more detailed components using lunar dust. These technological advancements not only benefit lunar construction but could also have applications on Earth by enabling more sustainable building practices.

These projects are part of long-term plans for lunar colonization, with the goal of establishing habitable bases that will facilitate future manned missions to Mars and the expansion of human presence in space.

4