NASA is offering $3 million for a groundbreaking invention to recycle 96 bags of astronaut poop, urine, and vomit left behind on the Moon

Ever thought about what happens to astronaut waste? Well, NASA is putting out a call for help, and they’re willing to shell out $3 million for a solution! The space agency is looking for a way to recycle 96 bags of human waste left on the moon over 50 years ago.

These bags contain not just poop, but also urine and vomit, which the Apollo astronauts had to leave behind to lighten their spacecraft for the return journey. Now, NASA wants to transform this waste into something useful—like water, energy, and fertilizer—through their “LunaRecycle Challenge.”

The challenge aims to tackle this unique problem and establish a “biological legacy” as NASA gears up for its upcoming moon missions. The agency is focused on reducing toxic outputs and promoting sustainable practices in space exploration.

“NASA is committed to sustainable space exploration. As we prepare for future human space missions, we will need to consider how to minimize various waste streams, including solid waste, as well as how to store, process, and recycle them in a space environment so that they are returned to Earth as little as possible,” the agency stated.

Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Apollo astronauts had to leave behind not just their waste but also used suits and technical equipment to make room for the lunar samples they collected. Now, with the Artemis program on the horizon, NASA is eager to find a practical solution for managing this waste.

The deadline for submissions was March 31, and NASA is now gearing up to review the innovative pitches from participants around the globe. The goal? To discover technologies that can effectively process all solid waste generated during space missions.

So, if you’ve got a brilliant idea brewing, it’s time to think outside the box—or should we say, outside the spacecraft? This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of space exploration while tackling a rather “crappy” problem!