Although NASA has sent people into space, it seems to have no idea what to do with their "bad" stuff..
So NASA will award $30,000 to anyone who can solve the problem with astronaut feces.
Astronaut Rick Mastracchio in a video asks us to “imagine a scenario where a crew on their way to the moon encounters an emergency situation when the vehicle begins to lose pressure in the astronaut chamber. The crew will have to quickly don their spacesuits to protect themselves from the vacuum of space.”
“I can tell you that spaceflight is not always a glamorous experience,” Mastracchio says. “People have to go to the bathroom, even on a spaceship. How can this waste problem be addressed so that it doesn’t harm astronauts or even kill them?”
Since the spacecraft will no longer be able to provide protection, astronauts must have a spacesuit to provide "clean air, water, shelter and enough nutrients to live in space for up to six days" until they can safely return to Earth.
But what happens if there is feces in the suit? What happens if a female astronaut has her period?
Feces in a spacesuit can expose astronauts to infections and sepsis. Despite NASA having the technology to send humans into space, it seems they are still using an outdated technology called “diapers” to solve this problem.
The problem is that in zero gravity, liquids can become a lump and stick to surfaces, while solids float in the air.
"You don't want any of those solids and liquids stuck to your body for six days," NASA says, reminding us how easy it is for babies to get diaper rash.
So if you have something of your own that can help NASA, the deadline for applications is December 20th.
