A team at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) say a method called microwave sintering could be used to create bricks from ilmenite, which is abundant on the Moon.

The bricks created using the technique, which is similar to firing ceramics, would be as strong as concrete, they say – though a practical test is needed.

Dr Young-Jae Kim from the KICT said: “This research is expected to be a crucial foundation for the development of microwave technology for future lunar exploration and lunar base construction.”

The researchers’ findings are set out in Volume 431 of the Construction and Building Materials journal.