China has completed a critical test for its ambitious lunar habitat program. Specially engineered bricks, designed for construction on the Moon, have been returned to Earth after nearly a year in the harsh lunar environment.
The 34 experimental bricks, each weighing 100 grams, were retrieved by the Shenzhou-21 mission. Early inspections confirm they remain in good condition. This marks a successful first step in proving the viability of future lunar building materials.
According to a Time Magazine report, the ultimate goal is to construct a lunar research facility named “Guanghan Palace,” inspired by a Chinese fairy tale.
Researchers say the findings could help predict how such brick age over 5, 10 or even 20 years on the lunar surface, bringing China’s vision of its “Guanghan Palace” a little closer to reality.
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— euronews (@euronews) November 27, 2025The “Guanghan Palace” Project Timeline
This initiative is a core part of China’s long-term space strategy. The nation has set an aggressive timeline for its lunar ambitions. They aim to begin construction on the lunar surface in 2028. This will be followed by a planned astronaut landing by 2030. The goal is to complete a basic structure for the research facility by 2035.
The bricks were engineered using simulated lunar regolith, the layer of loose material covering the Moon’s bedrock. Their survival provides valuable data on how such materials withstand extreme temperature shifts, radiation, and vacuum conditions.
Zhou Yan, an associate professor at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, noted the bricks appear lighter in colour and stated, “It requires further assessment to figure out the reason.” This analysis is crucial for refining the material composition for future use.
