China plans to 3D print its way to lunar habitation

China has announced plans to explore the use of 3D printing technology to build structures on the moon, according to the official Chinese newspaper, China Daily. 

The report stated that the country is solidifying its plans for long-term habitation on the moon, and is set to launch Chang'e 6, 7, and 8 missions between now and 2030. The Chang'e 8 probe will be tasked with on-site investigations of the moon's environment and mineral composition, Reuters reported.

It will also investigate whether 3D printing can be used to construct buildings on the lunar surface using the moon's own materials. Wu Weiren, a scientist at the China National Space Administration, was quoted as saying, "If we wish to stay on the moon for a long time, we need to set up stations by using the moon's own materials."

China's first lunar landing was made in 2013, and in 2020, the country's Chang'e 5 uncrewed probe collected China's first lunar soil samples. The country plans to land an astronaut on the moon by 2030. 

In order to achieve this goal, the Chang'e missions will look for reusable resources on the moon for long-term human habitation.

Chinese media has reported that the country wants to start building a lunar base within the next five years using soil from the moon. The plan involves launching a robot during the Chang'e 8 mission around 2028 to create "lunar soil bricks." 

The race to set foot on the moon has intensified in recent years, particularly between China and the United States. NASA and Canada's space agency announced this month that four astronauts have been named for the Artemis II mission, planned for late 2024, which would be the first human fly-by of the moon in decades.