NASA to Announce Winners of LunaRecycle Challenge in Alabama

• NASA will hold the final event of its $3 million LunaRecycle Challenge on Aug. 28, 2024, at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
• The competition seeks innovative recycling systems to manage non-metabolic waste during long-term lunar missions.
• Up to 14 finalist teams will present their prototypes and digital twins, with winners sharing a $1.325 million prize pool.

Prize Structure

• Top two prototypes: $475,000 and $200,000.
• Top two digital twins: $275,000 and $125,000.
• Technical Achievement Prizes: Up to six awards for specialized excellence.
• People’s Choice Award: $25,000 awarded based on public and stakeholder voting.

Competition Context

• The challenge is managed by NASA’s Centennial Challenges program at the Marshall Space Flight Center, with support from Kennedy and Ames Research Centers.
• Phase 1 saw record engagement, with over 1,200 registrations and 200 submissions from across the globe.
• Finalists recently completed live testing of their concepts at McAbee Construction in Alabama prior to the awards showcase.