Scientists have used LEGO brick assembly techniques to design launch pads and shelters for Artemis program astronauts visiting the moon. Their pioneering approach involves using meteorite dust to 3D print LEGO-like bricks, evaluating their potential as fundamental components in scaled-down structures.
These bricks click and snap together just like the LEGO bricks that inspired them, letting the ESA team test different space building techniques down here on Earth. (Photo : Lego)
Unveiling the ESA Space Lego-Like Bricks
European Space Agency (ESA) scientists have pioneered a groundbreaking method for lunar exploration by utilizing 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite dust to create 3D-printed LEGO-like bricks.
Inspired by LEGO brick-building techniques, these innovative bricks are designed to potentially serve as launch pads and shelters for astronauts in NASA's Artemis program. The ESA team's experiment involved 3D printing scaled-down structures using these bricks to test their feasibility and durability in extraterrestrial environments.
In partnership with NASA, the ESA has been investigating various 3D printing techniques to evaluate their potential for fabricating components using indigenous materials sourced from the Moon or Mars.
While stereolithography has proven effective for producing small-scale components and large-format construction, 3D printing has been applied to building structures. The production of bricks using extraterrestrial resources represents a pioneering leap forward in space construction technology.
While creating bricks from a blend of dust and a polymer matrix may not seem revolutionary, the forthcoming tests on these bricks aim to yield crucial insights into their resilience and endurance under the harsh conditions of outer space.
Initially, the focus was on determining whether materials found in space could be fashioned into viable building blocks, beginning with small-scale experiments.
Replicating Lunar Materials for Future Exploration
On the moon, the predominant material is regolith, although Earth's access to authentic lunar samples is severely restricted and stems mainly from the Apollo missions. To address this, researchers turned to meteorites that resemble lunar materials.
They pulverized these meteorites into fine dust and combined them with a small quantity of polylactide and a simulant of lunar regolith to produce bricks resembling LEGO bricks, termed the ESA Space Bricks. The meteorite selected dates back approximately 4.5 billion years and was initially discovered in North-West Africa in 2000.
Experts describe this meteorite as an L3-6 brecciated stone. It comprises diverse elements such as sizable metal grains, inclusions, chondrules, and other constituents typical of stone meteorites. The bricks will also facilitate the ESA team's experiments with various space construction techniques here on Earth.
ESA's Science Officer, Aidan Cowley, emphasized the unprecedented challenge of lunar construction, which necessitates innovative approaches to construction methods and materials sourcing due to the impossibility of transporting materials from Earth.
Cowley's team initiated the exploration of shaping space dust into LEGO-like bricks, aiming to evaluate their structural integrity and practical application in simulated lunar conditions.
Despite their rough appearance, these bricks demonstrate robust connectivity, allowing for rigorous testing of construction methodologies. The ESA Space Bricks will be exhibited at LEGO Stores in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Spain, and Australia, alongside the LEGO House in Billund, Denmark.
This global showcase seeks to spark creativity among aspiring builders and illustrate how LEGO brick concepts can transcend earthly challenges and inspire innovation beyond the bounds of our atmosphere.
