NASA’s $3 million challenge seeks to solve lunar waste problem

With the LunaRecycle Challenge, NASA asks citizens for help in tackling the waste problem during lunar missions by seeking solutions to implement a sustainable human presence on the Moon

NASA has announced the opening of a new competition called “LunaRecycle Challenge“, with an offer of $3 million in prize money for collecting ideas on how waste is to be managed in lunar missions.

The competition seeks approaches to manage and recycle waste materials in long-term space environments, particularly in relevance to the Artemis missions with their goal of achieving a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Put simply, the aim is to minimize waste products as much as possible and convert all available materials into new, valuable products, which would lower cargo volume and enhance mission sustainability.

The two tracks forming the competition are based on “Prototype Build” and “Digital Twin“. The former includes hardware components and systems to recycle solid waste streams directly on the lunar surface, such as food packaging, clothes, and scientific materials.

The latter aims at the digital twin of a recycling system, whereby participants create an innovative solution without necessarily building a prototype.

New innovations could benefit earth-based recycling efforts

NASA calls for the development of energy-efficient, low-impact, lightweight technologies intended for the lunar environment but makes it possible to extend missions. These will enable waste management in space and perhaps also develop new ways in sustainable methods and technologies in Earth-based waste management.

The competition is one of NASA’s “Centennial Challenges“, a program designed to harness the creativity of the public in space innovation and to solve some of the complex problems. Competitions like these spur ingenuity around the globe, ultimately driving technological development here on Earth.

Amy Kaminski, the program manager, explained the drive behind the project:

“Space operation sustainability is important to NASA. Under the LunaRecycle Challenge, we hope to accrue ideas that could be put to use on Earth and in space.”

Collaboration of University of Alabama and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

It chooses the University of Alabama for partnership to ease the organization of the competition, with partial coordination coming from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The challenge is open to participants from any part of the world, for which one can apply using the form for registration of interest.

The stakes are high, with much more at stake than just monetary rewards. Winners will be contributing to something as big as lunar missions and will have an opportunity to carve the face of future recycling practices, bringing humanity closer to sustainability on Earth and beyond.