LEGO has joined forces with the European Space Agency as part of an initiative to build shelters on the Moon.
The toymaker announced in a press release that it has partnered with the agency to make bricks from meteorite dust.
The bricks, which closely resemble different toy blocks, are part of a project to build structures on the Moon.
ESA aims to build launch pads and shelters for astronauts – meaning explorers could soon be residing in Lego-inspired accommodation.
When the ESA team began studying construction on the Moon, they wanted to use materials that occur naturally in space.
“No one has ever built a structure on the Moon, so we have to figure out not only how we build them, but also what we build them with, as we can’t take any materials with us,” ESA said. Science officer Aidan Cowley explained.
Both the Earth and the Moon are covered in regolith, a layer of loose rock and dust that sits on top of a layer of rock.
But it differs in compositions – meaning scientists quickly found a problem.
Other than samples collected by the Apollo missions, there is no lunar regolith in Earth.
Faced with limited options, the ESA team opted for meteorite dust. They highlighted a 4.5 billion-year-old rock discovered in northwest Africa at the turn of the century.
The meteorite is full of materials from space, including grains of metal and small particles of formerly molten silicate known as chondrules.
The researchers combined meteorite dust with regolith and biodegradable plastic.
The mixture was then used to 3D print blocks “that mimic and behave like LEGO bricks.”
The bricks Photograph together like the toys that inspired them, allowing the team to create prototypes without going into orbit.
“My team and I love creative building and we had the idea to explore whether space dust could turn into a brick similar to a Lego brick so we could test different building techniques,” said Cowley.
“The result is incredible, and although the bricks may feel a little rougher than normal, the most important thing is that the clutch force still works, allowing us to play and test our designs.”
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Fifteen of ESA’s Space Bricks will be on public display until September.
They will be on view at select retail locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.
Lego enthusiasts can also spot them at the Lego House in Billund, Denmark – the iconic toy’s hometown.
The Lego House is filled with 25 million bricks arranged in cascades, plantsIt is animals.
Reservations are required to enter the park, so tickets must be booked in advance.
Where can I see ESA’s Space Bricks?
ESA LEGO bricks will be on display in the following stores from June 24 to September 20, 2024.
USA
LEGO Store, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota
LEGO Store, Disney Springs, Florida
LEGO Store, Water Tower Place, Chicago
The LEGO Store, Disneyland Resort, California
LEGO Store, 5th Avenue, New York
Canada
The LEGO Store, West Edmonton
UK
The LEGO Store, Leicester Square, London
Germany
The LEGO Store, Munich Zentrum
The LEGO Store, Cologne
Denmark
The LEGO Store, Copenhagen
LEGO House, Billund
Spain
The LEGO Store, Barcelona
France
The LEGO Store, Paris
Netherlands
The LEGO Store, Amsterdam
Australia
The LEGO Store, Sydney
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
