Solar panels out of moon dust

Blue Origin—Jeff Bezos’ answer to Elon Musk’s SpaceX—has developed technology that can turn Moon dust into solar cells and transmission wires.

This would significantly decrease the costs involved in transporting infrastructure to the Moon since many space organizations are exploring the idea of long-term human settlements on Mars and the Moon.

How?
Space organizations are already proposing “in-situ resource utilization” (ISRU), which would use materials found in space to construct shelters, generate oxygen and provide water.

Solar panels are the main way to generate electricity in space, but building them has been a tough nut to crack.

Blue Origin came up with Blue Alchemist Technology that will create all key ingredients needed for a solar panel out of lunar regolith—the material found on the Moon’s surface. In addition, the technology can also create transmission wires. 

Scientists believe this new technology is a step toward creating sustainable ways of living on the Moon.