German scientists from Aalen University in Germany have proposed a method to produce durable tiles from lunar soil. In the future, this material could form the basis of future roads and landing sites on Earth’s moon. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Scientific Reports.
Moon dust consists of volcanic rocks. It adheres well to objects due to the static charge and has strong abrasive properties due to the sharp edges of the particles. This structure of dust makes it dangerous for spacecraft, spacesuits and human lungs.
Laying roads to the Moon would protect ships and lunar rovers from dust, but transporting construction materials from Earth would require huge costs.
Experts from Aalen University conducted an experiment to turn an analogue of lunar soil into paving stones using powerful pulses of energy. To do this, the fine-grained material EAC-1A was melted with laser power of up to 12 kilowatts.
As a result, scientists obtained triangular tiles with a hollow center about 25 centimeters wide and 2.5 centimeters thick.
In order for a beam of this power to focus on the Moon, you will need a lens with a diameter of approximately 1.75 meters.
“In this way, tiles can be created directly on the Moon in a relatively short time using simple equipment,” said aerospace technology expert Juan Carlos Ginés-Palomares.
Previous scientists discovered A new mechanism for water formation on the Moon.