ESA’s advancement is in line with NASA’s Artemis program that envisages human habitation on the Moon by 2040

The European Space Agency (ESA) is pioneering the development of modular "Lunar Lego Bricks" in a transformative step towards establishing sustainable habitats on the Moon. Sintering, an innovative 3D printing technique was used to craft these bricks from lunar regolith. These bricks are inspired by the familiar toy blocks. The process involves heating the regolith to form a solid cohesive structure on the lunar surface.

This project aims to address the logistical challenges and costs associated with the transportation of heavy construction materials from the Earth. ESA aims to streamline the assembly of habitats and research facilities by utilizing the resources available on the moon. The flexibility in design offered by the Lego bricks enables the astronauts to promptly build, reconfigure, and adjust structures according to the Moon’s challenging environment. ESA’s advancement is in line with NASA’s Artemis program that envisages human habitation on the Moon by 2040. This flexible construction approach is envisioned to create robust and durable structures as well as bolster long-term lunar missions and scientific ventures.

As space agencies contest to colonize the moon, ESA’s novel bricks stand for sustainable extraterrestrial architecture. The discovery of these modular bricks embodies a major step towards mankind’s efforts to extend their presence beyond the Earth.