NASA has launched a new competition with a prize of up to $3 million for those who help address the issue of waste as humans venture into space.
On the Moon, in addition to rovers and scientific equipment, there are 96 bags of human waste. According to IFLScience on October 15, these bags were used to address the physiological needs of astronauts, along with other waste and refuse.
The first photo taken on the Moon with a waste bag – (Photo: NASA).
Scientists hope that one day they can bring these bags back to Earth to study how time on the Moon has affected them. However, for now, they remain on the lunar surface.
In fact, the first photo taken by astronaut Neil Armstrong on the Moon also features one of these waste bags.
Rovers and landers do not produce much waste, but humans are different. Besides feces and urine, astronauts will also have to dispose of various other waste and refuse during long-duration missions, or if we establish a base on the Moon.
As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seeks to stay longer on the Moon, inorganic waste such as scientific equipment, clothing, and food packaging may become a significant issue. Thus, NASA has called for help through their LunaRecycle Challenge.
Despite efforts to minimize waste from the outset, NASA is still seeking ideas and designs for technology that can recycle waste into useful products.
“Sustainability is a critical consideration for NASA as we conduct exploration and research in remote locations or even here on Earth. With this competition, we are looking for creative public approaches to waste management on the Moon and drawing lessons for Earth for the greater good,” said Amy Kaminski, a NASA employee.
The competition is divided into two parts:
- Prototype Build Track will focus on designing and developing hardware and systems to recycle one or more streams of solid waste on the lunar surface.
- Digital Twin Track will concentrate on designing a virtual replica of a complete system for recycling solid waste streams on the Moon and producing end products.
Participating teams can register at this link. They can complete one or both parts of the competition. The prize money will be evenly distributed between the two parts.
