The problem of recycling does not only affect our planet. NASA wants to look for solutions to the trash on the Moon, because yes, humans are a bit dirty and have also filled space with garbage. Since they cannot come up with new ideas, they have offered up to 3 million dollars to anyone who can provide a real solution to this problem. Will it be you?
Trash on the Moon?
Yes, even if we do not think about it much, astronauts also generate waste (and spacecraft too, and probes that remain drifting around). The fact is that Earth’s orbit is full of trash, and if more missions are planned or if humans are going to spend much more time on the Moon, recycling and cleaning are essential. So NASA has launched the Lunar Recycle challenge, not only to recycle, but to turn that waste into something useful and eliminate dependence on shipments from Earth. It does not sound like a bad plan, right?
Recycling in space
It may not seem like a big problem, but the reality is that everything astronauts take with them ends up staying there. Each space mission generates kilos and kilos of waste (food packaging, used clothing, packing materials, equipment parts). Everything accumulates, and if on Earth we already struggle to recycle because we are a mess, imagine doing it 384,000 kilometers from home.
Self-sufficiency
NASA believes that if we want a stable human presence beyond Earth, we cannot always depend on “shipping from home”. The idea is that astronauts can live and work for long periods using what they have on hand, or reusing what they already brought. So more than an environmental issue, it is about survival.
The Lunar Recycle challenge
This challenge is part of the Artemis program, the big plan to return to the Moon and stay this time. NASA has invited curious minds from all over the world to participate by proposing an idea that allows astronauts to process and reuse waste. And be careful, Earth-based processes will not work. We are talking about reduced gravity, very limited resources and a very hostile environment for humans, so other options are needed.
From trash to resources
The goal is to transform waste into something usable, whether for construction materials, tools, spare parts or useful elements for the daily life of astronauts. Think that every kilo recycled on the Moon is one kilo less that has to be launched from Earth, and the savings that come with it.
Who can participate?
Anyone. Nationality does not matter, and it does not matter whether you come from the aerospace world or a completely different sector. They just want new ideas and curious minds. Hurry up, because the submission deadline is January 22, 2026.
And it is 3 million dollars straight into your pocket, plus knowing that your idea will serve the future of space. Is that not reward enough?
From the Moon to Mars
And of course, if it can be done on the Moon, why not on Mars? Self-sufficiency will be even more crucial because Mars is much farther from Earth.
It could help our planet
Of course. Remember those huge plastic islands in the ocean. If a much more efficient and sustainable recycling system is created, it could be used to move them to industrial zones or places with fewer resources.
So it is much more than solving a problem. It is opening the door to a new era of space exploration, and your idea could be the key to the future. Do you want to be the one who leaves a mark on history?