China’s ‘lunar soil bricks’ return from space in major step toward building base on the Moon

China has inched closer toward its ambitious goal of building infrastructure on the Moon, as the first set of experimental 'lunar soil bricks' returned to Earth after a year-long exposure to the harsh environment of space as part of a pioneering experiment aboard China's space station.

The specially engineered blocks touched down last week on the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, alongside three astronauts completing a six-month mission.

Initial inspections suggest the samples survived their year in orbit remarkably well, offering what scientists describe as a promising early proof-of-concept for future lunar construction.

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"Upon opening the lid, we found that the samples were in good condition. There were no dents, holes, or oth