All you need to know about NASA LunaRecyle challenge that worth $3 million prize money

As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) gets ready for future human long-term space mission, the agency has announced a novel competition to tackle the waste management, which will prioritise technologies for recycling waste into usable products that could be used for off-planet science and exploration activities.

The NASA in alliance with The University of Alabama, will coordinate with former Centennial Challenge winner AI Spacefactory to facilitate the challenge and manage its competitors.

LunaRecyle challenge, a mission which will be powered by the ideas and creativities of public to find solution to solid waste management and processing inorganic waste materials, which includes food packaging, discarded clothing, and science experiment materials, will draw a prize money of $3 million.

“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.”

The competition announced by the NASA, is a two-track, two phased challenge, which will get incentivised by the agency to develop "energy-efficient, low-mass, and low-impact recycling solutions that address physical waste streams and improve the sustainability of longer-duration lunar missions," according to NASA.

The two-track competition

The two competition tracks would include a Prototype Build track and a Digital Twin track.

According to NASA, the Prototype Build Track will focus on designing and developing hardware components and systems for recycling one or more solid waste streams on the lunar surface.

On the other hand, the Digital Twin Track will focus on designing a virtual replica of a complete system for recycling solid waste streams on the lunar surface and manufacturing end products.

Each of the competition track carries its own share of the prize purse and the the teams can choose to compete in either or both competition tracks.

According to NASA, "Offering a Digital Twin track further lowers the barrier of entry for global solvers to participate in NASA Centennial Challenges and contribute to agency missions and initiatives."

The three technological needs that LunaRecycle is expected to address, according to the agency, 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.

The registration for the NASA's LunaRecycle challenges can be done by visiting lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu.