China plans to explore 3D printing technology on the moon to construct buildings on it.
The first Chinese astronaut is expected to land on the moon in 2030; Image: Business Insider
According to the China Daily, the Chinese space agency is planning a test to use the moon's resources to build long-term habitats using 3D printing. This test is expected to be completed in 2028 with the Chang'e 8 mission.
A robot designed to make bricks from rocks from the moon will also be tested with the Chang'e 8 mission, according to the Chinese news agency. In 2020, China successfully conducted the Chang'e 5 mission and returned surface samples from the lunar surface for the first time.
The race for the moon has come to a head again in recent years. The U.S. is planning the first fly-by at the moon in decades with the crewed Artemis II mission. China wants to put the first astronaut on the moon by 2030.
