Overview

• Researchers at the University of Potsdam have developed solar panels using lunar regolith, reducing spacecraft launch mass by 99.4%.
• The new 'moonglass' panels, combined with perovskite crystals, are lightweight, radiation-resistant, and scalable for on-site production.
• Laboratory tests show an efficiency of 10-12% with potential to reach 23% through further refinement of the technology.
• Plans are underway for small-scale lunar experiments to address challenges like low gravity, vacuum conditions, and extreme temperature variations.
• This innovation is part of broader efforts to use Moon resources for sustainable exploration, including infrastructure and oxygen extraction.