Core Viewpoint - The successful development of China's first lunar regolith brick-making machine marks a significant step towards utilizing lunar materials for construction on the Moon, potentially enabling the creation of lunar habitats. Group 1: Development Stages of the Lunar Regolith Brick-Making Machine - The research and development of the lunar regolith brick-making machine took approximately two years, involving three key stages: concept validation, product development, and process iteration [2]. - In the concept validation stage, the research team conducted various tests on solar concentration technology, ultimately selecting Fresnel lens and film lens methods for energy concentration [2]. - During the product development phase, the team focused on high-efficiency energy transmission and lunar regolith densification, overcoming challenges related to energy transmission efficiency and regolith transport mechanisms [2][3]. Group 2: Characteristics of the Lunar Regolith Bricks - The lunar regolith brick-making machine operates by using a parabolic mirror to concentrate solar energy, achieving over 3000 times solar concentration, which melts the lunar regolith at temperatures exceeding 1300°C [4]. - The bricks produced are made entirely from lunar regolith without any additives, exhibiting high strength and density, suitable for various construction needs beyond just housing [4]. Group 3: Steps to Build Lunar Habitats - Despite the progress made with the lunar regolith brick-making machine, several technical challenges remain before constructing habitats on the Moon [5]. - The construction process requires integrating lunar regolith bricks with rigid and flexible structural systems to withstand the Moon's extreme conditions [5][6]. - The pathway to achieving this includes further technological breakthroughs in brick manufacturing, structural assessments, and conducting tests under lunar conditions [6].

Core Viewpoint - The successful development of China's first lunar regolith brick-making machine marks a significant step towards utilizing lunar soil for construction on the Moon, potentially enabling the creation of lunar habitats. Group 1: Development Stages of the Lunar Regolith Brick-Making Machine - The research and development of the lunar regolith brick-making machine took approximately two years, involving three key stages: concept validation, product development, and process iteration [2]. - In the concept validation stage, the research team conducted various tests on solar concentration technology, ultimately selecting Fresnel lens and film lens methods for solar concentration [2]. - During the product development phase, the team focused on efficient energy transmission and lunar regolith densification, achieving breakthroughs in energy transmission fiber technology and lunar regolith transport mechanisms [2][3]. Group 2: Characteristics of the Lunar Regolith Bricks - The lunar regolith brick-making machine operates by using a parabolic mirror to concentrate solar energy, achieving a concentration ratio of over 3000 times, which melts the lunar soil at temperatures exceeding 1300°C [4]. - The bricks produced are made from 100% in-situ lunar regolith without any additives, exhibiting high strength and density, suitable for various construction needs beyond just housing [4]. Group 3: Steps to Build Lunar Habitats - To construct habitats on the Moon, several technical challenges must be addressed, including the integration of lunar regolith bricks with rigid and flexible structural components [5]. - The process involves three main steps: advancing key technologies for brick manufacturing and structural evaluation, conducting lunar surface tests of the brick-making machine, and developing pressure-resistant modules that work in conjunction with the brick-making machine and lunar construction robots [6].