The first batch of “lunar bricks” developed by the research team at the National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) has safely returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

These samples were part of the ninth batch of space science experiments conducted outside the Tiangong space station. After a full year of exposure in the harsh environment of outer space, the samples were retrieved on Nov 14 and officially handed over to scientists in a ceremony at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In total, the team prepared 74 lunar bricks. They were launched to the Tiangong space station on Nov 15, 2024, aboard the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship to undergo exposure experiments lasting one, two, or three years. The R5 sample unit has now successfully completed its one-year mission and returned in excellent condition, while the remaining samples will continue their long-term exposure experiments in orbit.

This project is led by Academician Ding Lieyun, Chief Scientist of the National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction, with key contributors including Professor Zhou Cheng and Associate Professor Zhou Yan.

Researchers will conduct comparative studies between space-exposed and Earth-based samples to understand how the lunar bricks’ macro and micro properties evolve after prolonged exposure to the space environment. The findings will help predict how such materials perform on the lunar surface over long periods, providing essential scientific and engineering guidance for future in-situ construction on the Moon.

Source: School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering of HUST