Researchers at Aalen University in Germany have found a way to create roads on the moon by melting lunar dust into paving slabs. The team used a 12-kilowatt laser to heat a powder made of plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxene, which were developed as substitutes for lunar dust. When heated to a temperature of 1200°C, the dust compacted and turned into a black, glassy structure with comparable compression strength to concrete. This material could be used as a road surface, making transport on the moon easier.
While using a laser on the moon might be challenging, the researchers suggest that a 1.5-metre-wide lens could be used to focus sunlight and achieve the same effect. Previous experiments have used lasers to compact replica lunar soil, but this team’s 10-centimetre-wide beam is the widest yet used.
The researchers created interlocking triangle shapes out of the lunar soil using the laser, with each side measuring 25 centimetres. These shapes could be laid down on the moon’s surface to create a road that vehicles could drive over. This would not only make driving easier, but also prevent lunar dust from being kicked up and damaging equipment.
The team also plans to investigate whether this material could be used for landing or launch pads on the moon. Landing on loose lunar soil can create a lot of dust, so having landing pads made from the melted lunar dust could help mitigate this issue.
This innovative approach to constructing roads and landing pads on the moon could significantly improve transportation and exploration capabilities on the lunar surface.
