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WG3K > ANS 07.07.24 02:29l 68 Lines 3196 Bytes #12 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-189.5
Read: GUEST
Subj: LEGO Bricks Printed out of Space Dust
Path: IZ3LSV<DB0ERF<DK0WUE<DK0WUE<VK5RSV<VK2RZ<KC9UHI<KA1VSC<WG3K
Sent: 240707/0128Z 6010@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
There have been many proposals for building structures on the Moon out of
lunar regolith. But heres an idea sure to resonate with creators,
mechanical tinkerers, model builders and the kid inside us all.
What about using actual LEGO bricks?
Researchers ground up a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite and used the dust to
3D print LEGO-style space bricks. They actually click together like the
plastic variety, with so far only one downside: they only come in one
color, grey.
Universe Today
Want to see some of these lunar LEGOs? LEGO will showcase the space bricks
at some of its stores.
Creating building materials on the Moon or Mars from the material on hand
means construction materials dont have to be transported from Earth. This
would be a huge savings in launch costs because less weight would have to
be boosted from Earth.
A group of scientists from ESA (European Space Agency) were inspired by
LEGO bricks, and with the advances in 3D printing, had the idea to print
space bricks and test how they would work for construction.
The only problem was that except for the Moon rocks brought back by the
Apollo astronauts – which are highly guarded for scientific study only
theres not any lunar regolith available on Earth to experiment with.
But meteorite dust is a close cousin to lunar regolith. The ESA team was
able to get a meteorite that was discovered in Northwest Africa in 2000 and
is about 4.5 billion years old. It is made of metal grains and chondrules,
similar to Moon dust.
*Inspired by LEGO, ESA scientists have used dust from a meteorite to
3D-print LEGO-style ‘space bricks to test out construction ideas for a
future Moon base. Credit: The LEGO Group*
They mixed the meteorite dust with some other things, like a polymer called
polylactide and regolith simulant and 3D printed bricks that mimic and
behave just like LEGO bricks. While they arent smooth like regular LEGO
bricks, ESA said the space bricks gave ESAs space engineers the
flexibility to build and test a variety of structures using this new
material.
“Its no secret that real-world scientists and engineers sometimes try out
ideas with LEGO bricks,” said Emmet Fletcher, Head of ESAs Branding and
Partnerships Office. “ESAs space bricks are a great way to inspire young
people and show them how play and the power of the imagination have an
important role in space science, too.”
“Nobody has built a structure on the Moon, so it was great to have the
flexibility to try out all kinds of designs and building techniques with
our space bricks,” said . ESA Science Officer Aidan Cowley. “It was both
fun and useful in scientifically understanding the boundaries of these
techniques.”
For a list of where the lunar LEGOs will be on display worldwide, see
https://www.universetoday.com/167675/lego-bricks-printed-out-of-space-dust/#...
The LEGO website has additional details at
https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2024/june/lego-bricks-scientists-bui...
Hopefully the lunar LEGOs will inspire both children and adults about space
and to encourage them to build their own LEGO Moon bases.
[ANS thanks Universe Today for the above information]
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