Chinese Researchers Develop Egg-Shaped Igloos for Lunar Colonization
Chinese researchers have designed sturdy, egg-shaped igloos as a potential solution for lunar colonization. The innovative concept is a response to the harsh conditions on the moon, including extreme temperatures and a lack of raw materials. Led by Ding Lieyun, the team has created initial sketches of a moon colony featuring grey, egg-shaped habitats with miniature astronauts scattered throughout.
The egg-like habitats are designed to account for the moon’s inhospitable environment, which includes a temperature range of -173°C to 127°C, as well as the risk of cosmic radiation. According to Ding, lunar construction poses “exceptionally challenging, super-engineering” obstacles due to these factors.
China has been making significant progress in its moon exploration ambitions, landing four spacecrafts on the moon over the past 11 years. In comparison, the United States has only achieved this feat once. Beijing plans to establish a manned moon base by 2035, and is taking significant steps to prepare for this endeavor.
To further develop its lunar colonization plans, China has retrieved moon dust from previous missions and is using it to create bricks. These bricks are being transported to the Tiangong space station for testing to determine their durability in lunar conditions. If successful, these bricks could become the building blocks of space civilization.