Recycling, processing, and storing waste in outer space
NASA welcomes submissions of proposals for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions
As NASA prepares for future human space missions, there is a need to consider how various waste streams, including solid waste, can be minimized — as well as how waste can be stored, processed, and recycled in a space environment so that little or no waste will need to be returned to Earth.
The LunaRecycle Challenge is a $3 million, two- track, two-phase competition focused on the design and development of recycling solutions that can reduce solid waste and improve the sustainability of longer-term lunar missions.
"Operating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth," said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA's Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program. "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."
Turning waste into usable products
NASA's challenge is open for submissions of proposals for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions and novel solutions for processing inorganic waste streams like food packaging, discarded clothing, and science experiment materials.
While previous efforts focused on the reduction of trash mass and volume, this challenge will prioritize technologies for recycling waste into usable products needed for off-planet science and exploration activities.
The challenge will incentivize the design and development of energy-efficient, low-mass, and low-impact recycling solutions that address physical waste streams and improve the sustainability of longer-duration lunar missions.
NASA's LunaRecycle Challenge will offer two competition tracks: a Prototype Build Track and a Digital Twin Track. The Prototype Build Track focuses on designing and developing hardware components and systems for recycling one or more solid waste streams on the lunar surface.
The Digital Twin Track focuses on designing a virtual replica of a complete system for recycling solid waste streams on the lunar surface and manufacturing end products. NASA offers digital twin tracks to further lower the barrier of entry for global solvers to participate in NASA Centennial Challenges and contribute to agency missions and initiatives.
Teams will have the opportunity to compete in either or both competition tracks, each of which will carry its own share of the prize purse.
The LunaRecycle Challenge also will address some of the aerospace community's top technical challenges. In July 2024, NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate released a ranked list of 187 technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The results integrated inputs from NASA mission directorates and centres, industry organizations, government agencies, academia, and other interested individuals to help guide NASA's space technology development and investments. This list and subsequent updates will help inform future Centennial Challenges.
Searching for three technological solutions
The three technological needs that LunaRecycle will address include logistics tracking, clothing, and trash management for habitation; in-space and on-surface manufacturing of parts and products; and in-space and on-surface manufacturing from recycled and reused materials.
"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 agency's Centennial Challenges, and challenge manager of LunaRecycle. "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."
NASA has contracted The University of Alabama to be the allied partner for the duration of the challenge. The university, based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will coordinate with former Centennial Challenge winner AI Spacefactory to facilitate the challenge and manage its competitors.
