Ammon News - Scientists estimate that the current cost of getting just one pound of material up to the moon and back comes to nearly $100,000 — a steep penalty for overpacking.

And now NASA is looking to crowdsource solutions that would help future astronauts more efficiently reuse the material they bring up to Earth's natural satellite, offering $3 million in cash prizes via its new 'LunaRecycle Challenge.'

'Astronauts will need to make the most of everything they bring with them, even their garbage,' the US space agency said in a video promoting the competition.

LunaRecycle's focus, the agency noted, would be 'non-gaseous, non-biological, and non-metabolic' solid waste: 'things like packaging, fabrics and structural elements.'

The end goal is to dream up innovative and hyper-efficient new ways to transform this trash into 'usable products' that support 'off-planet science and exploration.'

Phase 1 of the competition will carry a $1 million-prize purse and allow innovators to compete along two different tracks.

A 'Digital Twin' track will accept submissions of virtual simulations of the contenders' technology in action, incorporating real world data, and a 'Prototype Build' track will take on teams developing detailed designs of their recycling inventions.

NASA said that Phase 2 would be 'contingent on the emergence of promising submissions in Phase 1,' but would also bring with it $2 million in potential winnings.

Daily Mail