In a move that seems straight out of science fiction, NASA is developing massive glass residential bases on the Moon’s surface—transparent buildings made from the Moon’s dust itself using microwave ovens.

The idea came from an American company in California that successfully blew small glass spheres from lunar dust (regolith), a mixture of rocks, minerals, and sharp glass fragments, according to The Telegraph.

An Engineering Innovation Paving the Way for Life and Agriculture

The company plans to build huge glass spheres blown just like bubbles, then left to cool and harden to form strong, transparent structures where people can live inside.

NASA aims for these glass spheres to eventually reach hundreds of meters in size, serving as homes for astronauts who will live, work, and farm inside them.

Dr. Martin Bermudez, CEO of Skyeports, said, “I was an architect before moving to space structure design. When I learned that over 60% of the Moon’s soil consists of silicates, it occurred to me that glass could be the perfect building material there.”

He added, “Some told me glass is brittle and breaks easily, but we discovered it can be modified to be stronger than steel. When I presented the idea to NASA, they were immediately impressed.”

How Are the Glass Bases Built on the Moon?

Instead of sending building materials from Earth, which is costly, the plan relies on sending a microwave oven to the Moon’s surface.

The oven will be fed with excavated lunar dust to melt it, then large gas pipes will blow the molten glass into a spherical shape.

After cooling and solidifying, the interior fittings will be 3D printed using materials from the Moon’s surface.

Scientists plan to use self-healing glass that repairs cracks caused by micrometeorites or “moonquakes,” as well as integrating solar panels within the walls to generate power autonomously.

Smart Design Supporting Mental Health and Well-being

According to scientists, the spherical shape is not just an aesthetic choice but the best engineering design to evenly withstand pressure.

Transparency allows astronauts to see outside, which is vital for maintaining mental health during long missions.

Metals like titanium, magnesium, and calcium will be mixed into the glass to make it tougher.

A single sphere could reach diameters of 300 to 500 meters, or even more.

From Lab to the Moon

The project is funded under NASA’s “NIAC” (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) program, which supports futuristic ideas that could change space exploration.

The project’s advisory board includes former American astronaut Cady Coleman.

The first practical test will take place next January inside a thermal vacuum chamber simulating space conditions, followed by near-zero gravity flights to test the blowing process, then experiments on the International Space Station, before moving to real tests on the Moon’s surface in the coming years.

With the Artemis program approaching, which aims to return humans to the Moon within five years, NASA is trying to prepare an Earth-like environment for living there.

NASA: Innovation Is Our Path to the Stars

Clayton Turner, Deputy Director of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington, said, “The next steps depend on innovation. Projects born from the NIAC program can radically change how we explore space and protect our planet.”

He pointed out that the program also includes other ideas such as small robots swimming in the oceans of other planets or space habitats grown from fungi.