Got an idea for dealing with space waste? NASA wants to hear from you

Using a nearby crater as a landfill is not a sustainable way to live on the Moon

NASA has launched a $3 million prize challenge for innovators with solutions for waste on the Moon and deep space habitats.

Dealing with trash generated by humans on space missions sustainably has long been an issue. The Apollo landing sites on the Moon are littered with waste left behind by astronauts more focused on the lunar module's ascent stage mass and transporting valuable lunar samples back to Earth than discarded garbage.

Despite the clutter on the International Space Station (ISS), the process is different. Crew members can load vehicles, such as the Dragon freighter, with items to return to Earth. Items to be discarded can be stashed in expendable spacecraft, such as the Russian Progress vehicles or Northrop Grumman's Cygnus, and sent to burn up in the atmosphere.

However, discarding waste during long-duration deep space missions or using lunar craters as landfills during lengthy stints on the Moon is not sustainable. Hence NASA's competition to develop alternatives.

In this instance, the agency is looking for solutions for processing inorganic waste, such as food packaging, discarded clothing, or materials left over from science experiments. In the past, the space agency has considered solutions to reduce the volume and mass of waste. The new challenge is to find a way of reusing or recycling the waste somehow.

There are two tracks. One, the Prototype Build Track, is focused on designing and developing hardware for dealing with waste on the lunar surface. The other, the Digital Twin Track, is focused on creating a virtual replica of a complete system. NASA reckons the latter approach will lower the barrier of entry.

The challenge is focused on a hypothetical 365-day lunar mission, with processing that minimizes resource inputs (such as electricity and water) and unusable outputs (whatever is left over and deemed not usable after processing).

Registration opened on September 30 with a deadline of March 31, 2025. The winner will be announced in May. The challenge is also open to all, so international teams with ideas for dealing with mountains of Moon mess are welcome to apply. ®