China simulates fibers made from lunar soil as thin as hair

Lunar soil fiber was developed by researcher Zhu Meifang at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Donghua University, Shanghai, and his colleagues. The material sample was brought by the Thien Chau spacecraft to the Thien Cung space station this month, expected to undergo tests in harsh conditions such as vacuum, strong radiation and large temperature fluctuations.

Theo China DailyZhu’s team’s fiber generator is the world’s first device that can turn lunar soil into high-performance fibers in a vacuum environment. Using lunar soil as raw material, the device can operate automatically in vacuum and low gravity conditions on this celestial body. Without additives, it heats the soil powder to the point of melting into a thick liquid, then spins it into ultra-thin fibers using vacuum technology and high-speed spinning.

The new material is considered quite potential because lunar soil has a chemical composition and mineral content similar to basalt, and contains many trace elements. Meanwhile, basalt fibers have been widely used in high-end equipment manufacturing.

Zhu’s team began researching materials in harsh environments in 2016 and developed its own spinning equipment for the lunar environment. In 2020, after the Chang’e 5 spacecraft brought lunar soil samples back to Earth, they achieved important progress. Using only 0.5 grams of real lunar soil, they successfully created fibers about 3 meters long and as thin as hair.

Because lunar soil is scarce, the team created simulated materials for research. According to Global Timescreating simulated lunar soil based on scientific proportions is not difficult. The real challenge lies in recreating the lunar environment, with its vacuum and low gravity, on Earth.

In April 2025, the new fragile but durable fiber was displayed in the exhibition “20 years of China’s Lunar Exploration Program” at the National Museum of China. In September 2025, this technology won the top prize at the China International Industrial Fair.

“Transportation costs between Earth and the Moon are extremely high. Therefore, building future research stations will have to rely on local resources. Lunar soil fibers can help build tents on it,” said a research team member. They hope they will be woven into flexible structural materials or help reinforce concrete made from lunar soil, acting as “reinforcement” for future bases.

Currently, the new fiber is still in the verification stage and cannot be put into practical application soon. Sending fiber samples to the space station will help test their ability to withstand harsh conditions in space. The research team said that all test data obtained is very valuable.