Part 6/15:
Following Chang’e-7, China intends to launch Chang’e-8 in 2028, equipped with a lunar 3D printer designed to convert regolith into building materials. Pre-launch testing involves deploying experimental lunar bricks on China’s Tiangong space station, exposing them to the rigors of lunar-like environments over years to ensure structural integrity. These capabilities are critical for constructing habitats and other infrastructure directly on the lunar surface.