China plans to use 3D printing technology to build structures on the moon

The country has long-term goals for lunar habitation, with plans to land an astronaut on the moon by 2030.

The Chang'e 8 mission, set to launch around 2028, will investigate the potential for using resources found on the moon to construct a lunar base. The mission will deploy a robot to make "lunar soil bricks" for building purposes.

The use of 3D printing technology on the moon is an important step toward establishing long-term human habitation, said Wu Weiren, a scientist at the China National Space Administration.

China's plans come as NASA and Canada's space agency prepare for a human fly-by of the moon in late 2024.