NASA has launched the LunaRecycle Challenge, a competition aimed at developing possible waste management services for deep space missions.
The agency said Monday interested teams, vying for $3 million in prizes, are expected to develop energy-efficient, low-mass and low-impact recycling systems for turning physical waste streams like food packaging, old clothes and science experiment materials into usable products.
Innovators interested in joining the competition should tackle the following technological needs:
- Logistics tracking, clothing and trash management for habitation
- In-space and on-surface manufacturing of parts and products
- In-space and on-surface manufacturing from recycled and reused materials
The challenge is also intended to support NASA’s initiatives of achieving long-duration human space travel and building a sustained human presence on the Moon.
NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge features two tracks: the Prototype Build track for developing hardware for recycling solid waste materials on the lunar surface and the Digital Twin Track, which focuses on creating a virtual replica of the recycling system.
Amy Kaminski, program executive for prizes, challenges and crowdsourcing program at NASA, said, “Operating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth.”
Kim Krome, acting program manager for NASA’s Centennial Challenges, added, “We are eager for this challenge to serve as a positive catalyst for bringing the agency and humanity, closer to exploring worlds beyond our own.”
