The space bricks have landed

ESA scientists have been investigating how a future lunar base could be built from materials on the lunar surface. Inspired by LEGO building, they used meteorite dust to 3D print “space cubes” to test the idea. ESA Space Bricks are on display in select LEGO Stores from 20 June to 20 September, helping to inspire the next generation of space engineers.

The idea seems simple. Rather than taking construction materials all the way to the moon, we could use what’s already there to build a lunar base. The surface of the Moon is covered with a layer of rock and mineral debris known as lunar regolith. This material could be used to make space bricks. The only problem was that there isn’t much lunar regolith available on Earth to experiment with.

Undeterred, ESA scientists came up with a solution: they created their own version of lunar regolith by crushing a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite. Dust from the meteorite formed the basis of the mixture, which was then used to 3D print some LEGO-style space bricks.

ESA Space Bricks snap together in the same way as regular LEGO bricks, but they’re a bit rougher – and they only come in one color – stylish space grey! The Space Bricks gave ESA space engineers the flexibility to build and test different 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 encourages creativity and allows you to try out ideas quickly and easily. ESA Science Officer Aidan Cowley said: “No one has ever built anything on the Moon, so it was great to have the flexibility to try out all kinds of designs and building techniques with our space cubes. It was both fun and useful in scientifically understanding the limits of these techniques.”

Some of the ESA space bricks will be displayed in selected LEGO Stores to inspire children about space and encourage them to build their own LEGO moon bases. For some of these children, this may be the start of an imaginative journey that will lead them to one day become space engineers.

Emmet Fletcher, ESA’s Head of Branding and Partnerships, said: “It’s no secret that scientists and engineers in the real world sometimes try out ideas with LEGO bricks. ESA’s space bricks are a great way to inspire young people and show them how to play The power of imagination plays an important role in space science as well.”

To learn more about ESA space bricks and the LEGO Stores where you can see them, visit the LEGO website.