China to test 3D printing technology on the moon to build habitats

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.