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 is returned to Earth. That's why NASA has created the LunaRecycle Challenge and is now asking people to help.
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The LunaRecycle Challenge is a $3 million, two-phasefocused on designing and developing recycling solutions that can reduce solid waste and improve the sustainability of NASA's long-term lunar missions.
NASA's challenge is open for submissions and innovations in waste recycling on deep space and innovative solutions for processing inorganic waste streams such as food packaging, discarded clothing, and scientific experiment materials.
While previous efforts have focused on reducing the mass and volume of waste, this challenge will prioritize technologies for recycling waste into usable products needed for off-planet science and exploration activities.
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The challenge will incentivize the design and development of energy-efficient, low-mass, and low-impact recycling solutions that address natural 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 the design and development of components and hardware 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.
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Teams will have the opportunity to compete in one or both phases of the competition, each of which will carry its own share of the prize pool.
Source: recyclingproductnews
