Indian Scientists Have Developed A Process To Make Space Bricks For Habitation On Moon

• 18 Aug 2020

• Research scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have developed a process to make bricks on the moon for habitation using biology and mechanical engineering together.

The Process

• "The process involves extracting lunar soil and using bacteria and guar beans to harden it (soil) into brick-like structures for habitation on the moon in the future.
• In this process urea willbe sourced from human urine and lunar soil will be used as raw materials for the construction.
• As guar gum is used instead of cement for structures, space bricks will also lower carbon footprint in the lunar atmosphere.
• Since micro-organisms produce minerals through metabolism, one bacterium called 'sporosarcinapasteurii' can be used to form calcium carbonate crystals through a metabolic pathway called the ureolytic cycle.