NASA's LunaRecycle Challenge: Phase 1
Ages:Undergraduate, Graduate, Educator, Professional
Type:Submission
Scope:National
Registration
Registration for this competition has ended.
Contact
The LunaRecycle Challenge is a $3 million, two track, two-phase competition focused on the design and development of recycling solutions that can reduce solid waste and improve the sustainability of longer-term lunar missions. Teams may compete in either or both competition tracks.
As NASA prepares for future human space missions, sustainability will be critical. The LunaRecycle Challenge asks innovators to consider how various solid waste streams can be processed and recycled in a space environment so that little or no waste will need to be returned to Earth.
The challenge also hopes to inspire better approaches and outcomes for terrestrial recycling—through entirely novel approaches, processes that improve efficiency and reduce toxic outputs, and smaller-scale technologies that could be deployed in communities around the globe.
Digital Twin Track
The concept of a digital twin was born at NASA and represents a critical tool for designing and building physical systems and components that must operate in extreme environments like those found on the Moon. Digital twin technologies can enable numerous virtual design iterations and configurations and reduce the need for makeshift physical prototypes, saving substantial time and costs. The Digital Twin Track of this challenge is focused on designing a digital twin of a complete system for recycling one or more solid waste streams on the lunar surface and manufacturing one or more end products.Prototype Build Track
NASA has identified a number of sustainability research areas requiring further investment—including trash management for habitation and in-space and on-surface manufacturing from recycled materials. The Prototype Build track of this challenge is focused on complementing other NASA research activities by focusing on designing and developing hardware components and systems for recycling one or more solid waste categories on the lunar surface. Teams in this track may—but are not required to—include the manufacturing of one or more end products in their design. See the competition's informational website for full details: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/Website: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/
Managing Organization: NASA Centennial Challenges Program
Contact:
lunarecycle@ua.edu
Eligibility:
See the competition's informational website for full details: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/
Registration Opens: November 18, 2024
Registration Closes: March 31, 2025
Overview
The LunaRecycle Challenge is a $3 million, two track, two-phase competition focused on the design and development of recycling solutions that can reduce solid waste and improve the sustainability of longer-term lunar missions. Teams may compete in either or both competition tracks.
As NASA prepares for future human space missions, sustainability will be critical. The LunaRecycle Challenge asks innovators to consider how various solid waste streams can be processed and recycled in a space environment so that little or no waste will need to be returned to Earth.
The challenge also hopes to inspire better approaches and outcomes for terrestrial recycling—through entirely novel approaches, processes that improve efficiency and reduce toxic outputs, and smaller-scale technologies that could be deployed in communities around the globe.
Process
Digital Twin Track
The concept of a digital twin was born at NASA and represents a critical tool for designing and building physical systems and components that must operate in extreme environments like those found on the Moon. Digital twin technologies can enable numerous virtual design iterations and configurations and reduce the need for makeshift physical prototypes, saving substantial time and costs. The Digital Twin Track of this challenge is focused on designing a digital twin of a complete system for recycling one or more solid waste streams on the lunar surface and manufacturing one or more end products.Prototype Build Track
NASA has identified a number of sustainability research areas requiring further investment—including trash management for habitation and in-space and on-surface manufacturing from recycled materials. The Prototype Build track of this challenge is focused on complementing other NASA research activities by focusing on designing and developing hardware components and systems for recycling one or more solid waste categories on the lunar surface. Teams in this track may—but are not required to—include the manufacturing of one or more end products in their design. See the competition's informational website for full details: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/Criteria
Participate
Website: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/
Managing Organization: NASA Centennial Challenges Program
Contact:
lunarecycle@ua.edu
Eligibility:
See the competition's informational website for full details: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/
Deadlines
Registration Opens: November 18, 2024
Registration Closes: March 31, 2025
