The high-performance fiber test sample converted from simulated lunar soil, which is believed to be the first of its kind in China, was delivered to the Chinese Space Station aboard the Tianzhou 10 cargo craft on Monday, slated for long-term testing in space environment.

The technological breakthrough, which was made by a research team from Donghua University in Shanghai, unveiled what is believed to be the world's first piece of equipment capable of converting lunar soil into high-performance fiber materials in a vacuum environment.

Using lunar soil as the sole raw material, the equipment is designed to operate autonomously on the moon in unmanned, vacuum and low-gravity conditions. Without the need for additives, it heats lunar soil powder to high temperatures, melts it into a syrup-like liquid and then draws ultrafine fibers — much thinner than human hair — using vacuum traction and high-speed spinning technology.

The fibers are expected to significantly advance lunar exploration, as it can be used to bolster the construction of facilities on the moon.

The team began conducting research on lunar soil in 2021, and accelerated efforts after the university received 500 milligrams of soil samples collected by the Chang'e 5 mission.

Given the scarcity of real lunar soil, the team has also created simulated lunar materials for the experimentation, producing the fibers aboard the Tianzhou 10 cargo craft for the space trip.

Further experiments aboard the space station would aim to collect data on fiber performance under conditions such as high vacuum, intense radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations, providing a basis for future research, according to the university.