A Renewed space race is on and just like in the 60’s many world powers are hustling to get back to the Moon. However, we’re not just headed to Earth’s natural satellite to gather rocks, most are looking to set up a base and that means those astronauts are going to need some place to live.
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00:00A renewed space race is on, and just like in the 60s, many world powers are hustling
00:08to get back to the moon.
00:09But we're not just headed to Earth's natural satellite to gather rocks this time.
00:13Most are looking to set up a base, and that means those astronauts are going to need someplace
00:17to live.
00:18And this could be what Chinese astronauts eventually call home on the lunar surface.
00:23These are the 3D printed egg-shaped lunar domiciles Chang'e 8's astronauts might
00:27build and live in.
00:29They're calling them what in Chinese translates to moon-pot vessel, and there's a good reason
00:32for that.
00:33The design doesn't require any load-bearing vertical structure like columns or beams,
00:37but rather relies on the egg-shape and divided internal and external sections for support.
00:42All to enhance the moon-pot's stability, even in the face of possible moonquakes.
00:47The structure also includes an airbag in between the inner and outer shell, creating a thermal
00:51layer to protect against the more than 500 degree temperature swings between day and
00:55night on the moon.
00:56And the best part is the whole thing will be built from 3D printed bricks produced on
01:00the moon from materials already found there.
01:03Chang'e 8 is set to launch sometime in 2028, with the first round of building expected
01:07to be completed by 2030.