LEGO has developed bricks from meteorite dust (photo)

By: Nastya Bobkova | 28.06.2024, 23:48

LEGO has released unique meteorite dust bricks that are already available in selected stores. This step is part of a joint initiative with the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at using lunar dust for construction on the Moon.

Here's What We Know

These space bricks are part of LEGO sets that depict astronauts and space stations. They are made from things found by astronauts in the space void. The big Lego store in Manhattan is displaying these unique bricks until 20 September this year.

The move shows how astronauts can use lunar material to build on the Moon, saving resources and energy that would normally be required to transport building materials from Earth.

The bricks were created using dust from a meteorite recycled at ESA, which was then used to 3D print Lego model parts. These new bricks retain the traditional Lego look, but have a space grey colour.

The project is not only interesting and fun, but also shows the potential of lunar dust as a building material for future lunar habitats. This opens up new opportunities for saving resources and energy when building on the Moon.

The lunar surface contains a layer of rocks and minerals known as lunar regolith. This material is considered key to building on the lunar surface because it is readily available and found directly on the Moon. For a long time, scientists believed that regolith was needed to create the first extraterrestrial colonies. There are several promising methods for converting lunar regolith into building materials, which may include recycling it for use in structures.

However, here on Earth, lunar regolith is rare and difficult to access, which limits the possibilities of experimenting with it on Earth. Therefore, LEGO's collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) to create bricks from meteorite dust is a significant step in demonstrating the potential for using lunar resources for construction on the Moon.

Source:LEGO