NASA offers $3 million prize in recycling challenge

Screencap from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center/YouTube

A new NASA competition is offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste generated during deep space missions. 

LunaRecycle Challenge, part of NASA’s efforts toward sustainable space exploration, seeks solutions for “processing inorganic waste streams like food packaging, discarded clothing and science experiment materials,” NASA announced in a press release.

This challenge is not just about reducing the mass and volume of waste but instead focuses on recycling waste into usable products essential for scientific endeavors

“Operating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth. With this challenge, we are seeking the public’s innovative approaches to waste management on the Moon and aim to take lessons learned back to Earth for the benefit of all,” said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA’s Prizes, Challenges and Crowdsourcing program.

Happy #WorldSpaceWeek! 🚀@NASA‘s LunaRecycle Challenge focuses on sustainability in space by seeking waste management strategies that will encourage cleaner, greener missions in space and mitigate climate change on Earth! ♻️ pic.twitter.com/RbmbL3jr7G

— NASA Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing (@NASAPrize) October 7, 2024

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How you can participate in the NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge

Participants can compete in one or both of these two tracks – the Prototype Build track and the Digital Twin track.

The Prototype Build track is focused on developing hardware systems for recycling solid waste on the lunar surface.

The Digital Twin track is centered on creating a virtual model of a complete recycling system and its end products.

“I am pleased that NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will contribute to solutions pertaining to technological needs within advanced manufacturing and habitats,” said Kim Krome,  acting program manager for the agency’s Centennial Challenges.

 “We are very excited to see what solutions our global competitors generate, and 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.” 

Those interested in participating in the LunaRecycle Challenge can register here. You may watch this video for more information.