Blue Origin makes solar cells out of simulated moon dirt with "Alchemist" project

Blue Origin, the private spaceflight company started in 2000 by Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, claims a major progress in developing solar panels using materials from the lunar surface, suggesting the possibility to build electricity-generating panels on the Moon instead of having to transport equipment from Earth.

The process encompasses chemically and mineralogically making regolith simulants equivalent to lunar regolith (which is dust, dirt and gravel), then melting and moving further the molten regolith with a reactor, as described (discussed) in a Blue Origin statement. Silicon, iron, and aluminium are removed from the regolith by passing an electric current through the molten material.

Space agencies and private firms are also exploring other ways to utilise lunar regolith, for instance making bricks for construction and producing oxygen.

The Company says: "Blue Origin's goal of producing solar power using only lunar resources is aligned with NASA's highest priority Moon-to-Mars infrastructure development objective."

Source and opportunity to find out more:
- Blue Origin: https://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-alchemist-powers-our-lunar-future/