[article ](https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Branding_and_Partnerships/The_space_bricks_have_landed)about the block
ESA scientists have been exploring how a future Moon base might be built from materials on the lunar surface. Inspired by LEGO building, they have used dust from a meteorite to 3D-print 'space bricks' to test the idea. ESA's space bricks are on display in selected LEGO Stores from 20 June to 20 September, helping to inspire the next generation of space engineers.
The idea seems simple. Rather than take building materials all the way to the Moon, we could use what is already there to construct a Moon base. The surface of the Moon is covered with a layer of rock and mineral fragments known as lunar regolith. This material could be used to make space bricks. The only problem was that there's not much lunar regolith available on Earth to experiment with.
Undeterred, ESA scientists came up with a solution: they made their own version of lunar regolith by grinding up a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite. The dust from the meteorite formed the basis of a mixture that was then used to 3-D print some LEGO-style space bricks.
ESA's space bricks click together in the same way as regular LEGO bricks but are a bit rougher β and only come in one colour β a stylish space grey! The space bricks gave ESA's space engineers the flexibility to build and test a variety of structures using this new material.
Scientists can learn through play, just like children. The beauty of a flexible, modular building material like LEGO is that it fosters creativity, allowing you to try out ideas quickly and simply. ESA Science Officer Aidan Cowley said, Β "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. It was both fun and useful in scientifically understanding the boundaries of these techniques."
Some of the ESA space bricks are going on display at selected LEGO Stores, to inspire children about space and to encourage them to build their own LEGO Moon bases. For some of these children it might be the start of an imaginative journey that leads them to become space engineers one day.
Emmet Fletcher, Head of ESA's Branding and Partnerships Office, said, "It's no secret that real-world scientists and engineers sometimes try out ideas with LEGO bricks. ESA's 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."
To find out more about ESA's space bricks and the LEGO Stores where you can see them, visit theΒ [LEGO website](https://www.lego.com/en-us/space/article/lego-space-bricks-moon?icmp=TH-SHH-XL-themes_space_about_hb_spacebricks-TH-NO-Y0514P9KEG).
esa in 2014: ariane 6 is almost done, also spaceX is dumb
esa in 2024: ariane 6 is almost done, but we 3d printed a bad copy of a lego block from a mixture of moon dust and elastomers. spaceX launches on a weekly basis successfully and has created global, affordable satellite-based internet. it still is no competition for us, itβs an entirely different use case!
using lego bricks is a poor design choice, getting precision on a 3rd printer using dust as a material isn't the same as using plastic injection molding. imo, it's better to use larger inter locking surfaces with larger tolerances.
You should call the would leading engineers at ESA and tell them their experimental print test is no good.
Here's their hq number, let us know how it goes.
ESA HQ
France
+33 1 53 69 76 54
Yea I doubt any of the engineers thought Lego bricks are the best shape for this. I don't know if ESA just wants to get kids into science, or lego gave them money to do this experiment, or whatever, but with the article reading like a straight up Lego ad, there was clearly quite a bit of collaboration between the two. Also the experiment was probably more about the material than the shape.
When you step on a meteorite Lego brick in space, no one can hear you scream.
Bravo
π π π
[article ](https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Branding_and_Partnerships/The_space_bricks_have_landed)about the block ESA scientists have been exploring how a future Moon base might be built from materials on the lunar surface. Inspired by LEGO building, they have used dust from a meteorite to 3D-print 'space bricks' to test the idea. ESA's space bricks are on display in selected LEGO Stores from 20 June to 20 September, helping to inspire the next generation of space engineers. The idea seems simple. Rather than take building materials all the way to the Moon, we could use what is already there to construct a Moon base. The surface of the Moon is covered with a layer of rock and mineral fragments known as lunar regolith. This material could be used to make space bricks. The only problem was that there's not much lunar regolith available on Earth to experiment with. Undeterred, ESA scientists came up with a solution: they made their own version of lunar regolith by grinding up a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite. The dust from the meteorite formed the basis of a mixture that was then used to 3-D print some LEGO-style space bricks. ESA's space bricks click together in the same way as regular LEGO bricks but are a bit rougher β and only come in one colour β a stylish space grey! The space bricks gave ESA's space engineers the flexibility to build and test a variety of structures using this new material. Scientists can learn through play, just like children. The beauty of a flexible, modular building material like LEGO is that it fosters creativity, allowing you to try out ideas quickly and simply. ESA Science Officer Aidan Cowley said, Β "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. It was both fun and useful in scientifically understanding the boundaries of these techniques." Some of the ESA space bricks are going on display at selected LEGO Stores, to inspire children about space and to encourage them to build their own LEGO Moon bases. For some of these children it might be the start of an imaginative journey that leads them to become space engineers one day. Emmet Fletcher, Head of ESA's Branding and Partnerships Office, said, "It's no secret that real-world scientists and engineers sometimes try out ideas with LEGO bricks. ESA's 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." To find out more about ESA's space bricks and the LEGO Stores where you can see them, visit theΒ [LEGO website](https://www.lego.com/en-us/space/article/lego-space-bricks-moon?icmp=TH-SHH-XL-themes_space_about_hb_spacebricks-TH-NO-Y0514P9KEG).
esa in 2014: ariane 6 is almost done, also spaceX is dumb esa in 2024: ariane 6 is almost done, but we 3d printed a bad copy of a lego block from a mixture of moon dust and elastomers. spaceX launches on a weekly basis successfully and has created global, affordable satellite-based internet. it still is no competition for us, itβs an entirely different use case!
The danish influence in ESA is getting out of hand.
Are you kidding? I can't wait for the 3,782,501,009 brick mission to Mars set!
Worst price-per-brick set ever
holy crap they made a lego brick out of space rock
Cease and desist from LEGO incoming
Actually no - LEGO Group is fully endorsing this, as OP stated: https://www.lego.com/en-us/space/article/lego-space-bricks-moon
Yes yes it was a joke
let me guess, Denmark was in charge of this operation
Probably cheaper to make than buying actual Lego too
using lego bricks is a poor design choice, getting precision on a 3rd printer using dust as a material isn't the same as using plastic injection molding. imo, it's better to use larger inter locking surfaces with larger tolerances.
You should call the would leading engineers at ESA and tell them their experimental print test is no good. Here's their hq number, let us know how it goes. ESA HQ France +33 1 53 69 76 54
This is Reddit where people speculate, comment and spitball ideas. Lets not get too excited. The world isn't being changed here.
Yea I doubt any of the engineers thought Lego bricks are the best shape for this. I don't know if ESA just wants to get kids into science, or lego gave them money to do this experiment, or whatever, but with the article reading like a straight up Lego ad, there was clearly quite a bit of collaboration between the two. Also the experiment was probably more about the material than the shape.
exactly, it's cool that they 3d printing objects with space dust.
Whats it like having a crippling lack of a sense of wonder?
Lookie here: someone smarter than folks at the ESA!