NASA is offering a whopping $3 million in prizes for innovative solutions to a challenge that has perplexed space explorers for decades: waste management on the Moon. As the agency prepares for extended lunar missions under the Artemis program, solving the trash problem is crucial for sustainability and success.
The Challenge: LunaRecycle
The LunaRecycle Challenge is NASA’s latest competition aimed at developing groundbreaking waste recycling technologies for long-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.
Why Waste Management Matters in Space
Space missions generate various types of waste, from old equipment and food packaging to human waste. During the Apollo missions, astronauts left 96 bags of waste on the Moon to save weight for lunar samples. However, NASA plans to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, so such practices are no longer viable. Effective waste management will be essential for minimizing environmental impact and conserving resources.
Competition Breakdown
NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge is divided into two phases. In Phase 1, participants are tasked with developing designs for either physical hardware or digital twin models of waste recycling systems. Phase 1 submissions are due by March 31, 2025, and winners will be announced in May 2025. The best physical prototype will win $600,000, while the top digital twin design will earn $400,000.
Phase 2 ups the ante. Participants must build functioning prototypes based on winning Phase 1 designs. Even teams that didn’t participate in the first phase can join. The best hardware prototype will win $1.4 million, and the best digital twin will earn $600,000.
Hardware and Digital Solutions
NASA offers two paths for innovators:
- Prototype Build Track: Focuses on hardware systems for recycling solid waste on the Moon.
- Digital Twin Track: Develops virtual replicas of recycling systems, enabling simulations and future design optimizations.
This dual approach allows participants to address real-world and virtual space challenges, broadening the scope for groundbreaking ideas.
A Mission to Advance Sustainability
NASA isn’t just looking for lunar solutions; they hope innovations from the LunaRecycle Challenge will have applications on Earth. “Lessons learned from waste management on the Moon could drive advancements in recycling and sustainability here at home,” said Kaminski. Whether it’s reducing toxic waste or creating small-scale recycling systems, the goal is to inspire change across industries.
The Artemis Program
The waste management challenge is just one piece of the puzzle for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon by 2026. Artemis missions will lay the groundwork for future exploration, including potential crewed missions to Mars.
How to Get Involved
The competition is open to international and U.S. teams. Interested participants must submit an Expression of Interest Form to NASA by the March 2025 deadline. Once registered, teams can access detailed mission scenarios and technical requirements. “We are excited to see the innovative solutions our global competitors will bring,” said Kim Krome, challenge manager for LunaRecycle.
The Race to Solve Space’s Trash Problem
NASA’s $3 million prize pool underscores the importance of sustainable space exploration. By tackling the waste challenge, participants will not only help future lunar missions but also contribute to more sustainable practices on Earth. “This challenge brings us closer to exploring worlds beyond our own,” said Krome.
For those with the skills and creativity to tackle waste management, this is a chance to make history—and pocket a significant reward.