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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →ESA scientists 3D-printed LEGO-like prototype bricks from a blend that included meteorite dust, polylactide and lunar-regolith simulant. They were research artifacts for exploring how people might build on the Moon—not standard LEGO products, and not bricks made entirely from meteorite. LEGO announced a temporary display at LEGO House and selected stores from June 24 to September 20, 2024; that exhibition period has ended.
What were the meteorite-dust bricks?
They were 3D-printed prototypes made by scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA), using LEGO’s familiar interlocking brick system as inspiration. LEGO’s June 18, 2024 announcement says the feedstock combined dust from a meteorite with polylactide and regolith simulant. That means the prototypes were a composite blend, not solid meteorite and not ordinary retail LEGO bricks.
The meteorite was discovered in Northwest Africa in 2000. LEGO’s account describes it as about 4.5 billion years old and containing metal grains and chondrules. After the materials were mixed, the team 3D-printed the brick-shaped samples.
Why test bricks for building on the Moon?
The project explored construction methods and materials for potential lunar infrastructure, such as launch pads and astronaut shelters. Transporting building material from Earth is a challenge, so researchers are interested in whether resources available at a destination—or materials that resemble them—could help form structures there.
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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ESA Science Officer Aidan Cowley explained the problem in LEGO’s announcement: “No one has ever built a structure on the Moon, so we have to work out not only how we build them but what we build them out of, as we can’t take any materials with us.” The prototypes let the team test building techniques; they do not establish that these particular bricks are ready for construction on the Moon.
Did they really click together?
According to LEGO’s account and its quotation from Cowley, the prototypes clicked and snapped together, retaining working “clutch power.” Cowley said their rougher appearance did not prevent them from being used to play with and test designs. The successful interlocking feature made them useful as a way to explore construction concepts, but it does not make them a consumer toy or prove their suitability for lunar conditions.
Rank #2
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Where were they on display, and can you still see them?
LEGO announced that 15 ESA Space Bricks would be displayed at LEGO House in Billund and selected LEGO Stores from June 24 through September 20, 2024. The listed store locations were in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Australia. The announced exhibition window is over, and the source does not establish whether or where the prototypes are on public display now. Check with LEGO House or ESA before planning a visit.
The announced locations included Mall of America, Disney Springs, Water Tower Place, Disneyland Resort, Fifth Avenue, West Edmonton, Leicester Square, Munich Zentrum, Cologne, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam and Sydney. This is the historical schedule, not a current itinerary.
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Rank #3
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Are these bricks for sale, or are LEGO space sets the same thing?
No. The ESA prototypes were research artifacts, not a retail LEGO product. LEGO’s Pick a Brick page offers ordinary building elements; it does not list these ESA prototypes for sale.
Commercial space-themed sets are toys with a different purpose and composition. For example, LEGO City Spaceship and Asteroid Discovery (set 60429) is a play set with asteroid and meteorite-themed elements, according to the Bricks Megastore listing. That does not mean it contains actual meteorite material or reproduces the ESA prototypes.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
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- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
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