NASA Invites Media to LunaRecycle Challenge Finale Event in Alabama

The LunaRecycle Challenge, launched in 2024, is a $3 million, two-phase NASA competition aimed at designing recycling systems to handle non-metabolic waste on future long-duration lunar missions. The program is managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center by Centennial Challenges, part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program, and has a legacy of more than 20 years engaging the public. Past challenges have spurred advances in robotics, additive manufacturing, power, textiles, chemistry, and biology.

The finale takes place Friday, Aug. 28, at The University of Alabama Lee Styslinger College of Engineering in Tuscaloosa, with opening remarks at 8:30 a.m. CDT in Room 1026 of H.M. Comer Hall. Up to 14 finalist teams will showcase their solutions at the Technology Showcase and Winners Announcement; media must RSVP by 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Aug. 27, via the NASA Marshall newsroom. In the final round of Phase 2, teams refined their prototype and digital twin concepts and completed live testing at McAbee Construction earlier this month.

After the event, up to 11 teams will share a $1.325 million prize purse: the top two prototypes receive $500,000 and $225,000, and the top two digital twins receive $275,000 and $125,000. Up to six Technical Achievement Prizes will be awarded, along with a $25,000 People's Choice Award voted on by the public and stakeholders. Winners are announced during the closing ceremony at 12 p.m. Phase 1 set a record with more than 1,200 registrations, nearly 200 submissions judged by a panel of 50, and 17 winners from five countries and nine U.S. states.