NASA has kicked off the second phase of its LunaRecycle Challenge – a hands-on initiative that aims to tackle space debris by creatively recycling materials like plastics, foams, and metals. Jennifer Edmunson, acting programme manager for Centennial Challenges at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre in Alabama, believes that reimagining these common materials could be key to supporting future missions on other planetary surfaces.
With plans being discussed to replace the International Space Station and even deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon, figuring out how to manage waste is becoming a pressing matter. In the challenge’s first round, more than 1,200 teams registered from around the world – including entrants from five countries and nine U.S. states. Now, Phase 2 zeroes in on U.S. participants, tasking them with developing a physical prototype that can handle over 4,600 pounds of waste produced by a four-person crew in a year.
This round places a strong emphasis on recycling practical items such as food packaging and discarded clothing, while aiming to reduce crew involvement and minimise risks. Administered by the University of Alabama, the competition is open for submissions until January 2026, with finalists announced in February and an in-person demonstration scheduled for the following August.
Participants stand a chance to share a $2 million prize pool by delivering innovative solutions that could help shape sustainable lunar missions. If you’ve ever thought about how recycling could make a difference even in space, this challenge might just spark your interest.
