Humanity aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon. But how can we manage waste? As part of the LunaRecycle Challenge, NASA hopes for radical solutions to limit waste on our natural satellite.
NASA is thus encouraging researchers and innovators to propose recycling systems capable of ensuring waste management. The competition offers up to 3 million dollars for the best ideas.
This two-phase competition will begin with the presentation of one-year mission scenarios. Each team will need to present eco-friendly solutions to minimize waste. Then, selected participants will manufacture a prototype based on their initial proposal. The most promising prototypes will be awarded up to 1.4 million dollars.
Waste management on the Moon requires a much more rigorous approach than aboard the International Space Station, where waste is sent back to Earth. On the Moon, this option is excluded.
The competition is divided into two segments, one dedicated to designing a "digital twin," a virtual replica of recycling systems. This process, favored in engineering, simulates performance before physical construction. The other segment, called the Prototype Build Track, involves developing actual hardware and equipment capable of processing lunar solid waste. These systems must consider on-site manufacturing of recycled materials.
Beyond the space aspect of the project, terrestrial applications are also anticipated. NASA hopes that some solutions may be adapted to improve recycling on Earth.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND