China reveals plans to build 3D printed base on moon

Colonising space with additive manufacturing? China reveals its plans to be the first country to establish a 3D printed base on the moon.

China plans to 3D print on the moon

It’s the China National Space Administration (CNSA) which announced its plans to use 3D printing technology to build on the moon. Indeed, this announcement was made at a press conference for the State Council Information Office (SCIO) following the Chinese lunar exploration mission, Chang’e 4. As a matter of fact, Chang’e 4 achieved the world’s first soft landing on the far side of the Moon on the 3rd of January. A major step in China’s ambitions to become a space superpower.

They further revealed that four more lunar missions are planned, including the launch of Chang’e 5. Consequently, Chang’e 5 will be the first probe to return samples of the moon to Earth since the 1970s. Another three missions are planned after this one. Namely a series of missions that will lay the groundwork for the construction of a lunar research base using additive manufacturing.