Are you capable of solving NASA’s biggest challenge? You don’t need to be a genius, but the most influential space agency in the world has launched a challenge for all humanity: recycle the waste we’ve been systematically sending into outer space. And wait, here comes the best part: if you win, you get up to 3 million dollars, all for yourself. NASA is looking for new ways to manage space junk, which isn’t just a technical necessity but an environmental emergency. There’s already enough trash on Earth, so we shouldn’t be polluting space too. That’s how the LunaRecycleChallenge project was born, a contest that blends ambition, innovation, sustainability, and science. If you think you fit the bill, here’s everything you need to know to enter. Maybe the future of space is in your hands and you don’t even know it.
The challenge to change the future
Humans haven’t just reached nearby outer space, we’ve also messed it up. This is because every space mission has left junk floating around our orbits, and NASA sees it as urgent to learn how to manage these resources. But not at any cost. They want something that can actually work in space.
Why does space junk matter so much?
In recent decades, Earth’s orbit has filled with fragments flying at extremely high speeds, putting future crewed missions at risk (imagine a rocket heading into space for any kind of manoeuvre and crashing into one of these pieces of debris, the consequences could be catastrophic).
What is the LunaRecycle Challenge?
The goal of this contest is ambitious, no doubt about it, but it’s within reach of the right minds. If you have an idea for how to reduce and reuse the materials we send into space, this is your contest, and NASA is looking for you.
This concept is called the Kessler Syndrome. It was proposed back in 1978 when space operations began. This syndrome warns that too much space junk could trigger a chain reaction of collisions or create a debris cloud that would make space inaccessible (kind of like the plastic islands in the Pacific, but in orbit).
Have there been problems with space junk?
Yes. NASA already reported that last February, a Russian satellite that was out of control—Cosmos 2221—almost collided with another satellite, this time American. They didn’t crash, but the impact could have released shrapnel traveling at 16,000 km/h, potentially causing serious problems for other missions.
What is LunarRecycle about?
It has two lines of work. The first is a physical prototype, basically, design and develop hardware systems capable of recycling on the lunar surface. The second is digital twins, meaning virtual replicas that let you test whether the systems work before building them in real life.
As a participant, you can submit one or both types, it’s up to you and how far your imagination can go!
What’s the deadline?
If you have an idea about this, hurry! The deadline for NASA to accept proposals is March 31, and remember, 3 million dollars could be waiting for you at the end of the road…
Final results from the first phase will be announced starting in May 2025.
How do I sign up?
Those interested must complete the Expression of Interest form for the LunaRecycle Challenge (click here and we’ll take you to the page). Remember that it’s important to do it through that form, proposals sent by email won’t be accepted, although the organizers have provided two official addresses for inquiries.
Good luck! See you on the lunar surface soon, who knows, maybe future is in your hands!