Eligibility/Legal | LunaRecycle 101 | Registration and Submission | Judging/Winning | Webinars | Technical
What happens to the challenge if there is a government shutdown?
We do not currently expect any government shutdown to impact the challenge. We expect the challenge to go on as planned. If an extended shut down impacts the challenge, we will provide additional details at the challenge websites.
What happens to my intellectual property?
Neither NASA nor University of Alabama claim any intellectual property (IP) rights from the teams’ submissions. All trade secrets, copyrights, patent rights, and software rights will remain with each respective team.
Who is eligible to compete and win a prize?
Phase 2 of the challenge is open only to U.S. teams. U.S. teams may, in some cases, include team members that are foreign nationals. Teams should review the Legal Requirements section of the challenge rules to see more specifically who is eligible to compete and win a prize.
Can I compete as an individual?
Yes, you may compete as an individual if you meet all Legal Requirements outlined in the challenge rules.
Can I compete if I’m under 18 years old?
Unfortunately no. All individuals must 18 years of age or older to compete in the challenge.
Why do I need insurance?
The U.S. Government requires all individuals and entities involved in challenges of this type to have adequate insurance coverage. Competitors are obligated to abide by existing U.S. Government guidelines.
Are we allowed to use the NASA logo, such as for a kickstarter campaign to help fund our participation?
No, as stated in the challenge rules, teams may not use the name, trademark or insignia of NASA.
We understand that teams may not use the NASA logo in any materials. But are we allowed to use the challenge logo and discuss our participation in the challenge?
Yes, teams may use the challenge logo and share information about their participation in the challenge.
I didn’t compete in Phase 1 of the challenge. Can I still compete in Phase 2?
Yes, any eligible team may compete in Phase 2. Teams are not required to have competed in Phase 1 in order to compete in Phase 2.
Are there restrictions on how the prize money can be used?
No, there are no limitations on how the prize purse may be used by an eligible individual, organization, or team.
Do you have any tips for raising the funds necessary to develop our solutions and compete? We understand that it can be difficult for solvers to raise the funding necessary to develop their solutions. We have a few resources that may help. First, to connect with other teams and stakeholders, you can join the LinkedIn community for the challenge, called The LunaRecycle Recruiting Board at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13152051/. Second, our September 24, 2025 webinar included a presentation by a former challenge winner and discussion of fundraising tips. You can access the webinar recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MQ4M_UsPgQ. Finally, please note that up to $750K in prizes will be available in the Milestone Round, and this funding can help finalist teams fund their work in the Final Round.
Are there ways to find and join a team? Yes, individuals seeking to collaborate or join a team may join the LinkedIn community for the challenge, called The LunaRecycle Recruiting Board at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13152051/.
What is the LunaRecycle Challenge?
The LunaRecycle Challenge is a $3 million, two-phase competition focused on the development of solutions that can transform trash items into useful feedstocks and/or end products on the surface of the Moon and Mars. Phase 1 of the challenge launched in September 2024 and concluded in June 2025. Phase 2 of the challenge launched in July 2025 and is expected to conclude in August 2026. Up to $2 million in prizes are available in Phase 2.
Who is conducting this challenge?
NASA is conducting this challenge through the Centennial Challenges Program. The program offers incentive prizes to generate revolutionary solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. The program seeks innovations from diverse and non-traditional sources. Competitors are not supported by government funding, and awards are only made to successful Teams when the challenge requirements are met.
Can I use crowdfunding to raise money to support my participation in the challenge?
Yes, teams may use crowdfunding to support their participation in the challenge.
What are NASA’s plans for integrating successful solutions from this challenge into actual lunar missions?
There are no explicit plans for integrating solutions from the challenge into specific planned missions. However, the challenge is designed to address key technical hurdles and requirements that will need to be addressed in future missions.
I’d like to compete—how do I get started?
To get started with your registration, go to the Institute of Competition Sciences website https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org/ and create an account or login (if you already have an account). After you have created your account, you will have access to additional instructions for completing your registration. Additional details about how to register are also outlined in the challenge rules.
How can I stay up to date on what’s happening with the challenge?
To receive updates about the challenge, go to the University of Alabama website https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu, click on the link to “Get Updates,” and submit the form with your name and email address.
I’m interested in the challenge, but I’m under 18 years old and therefore ineligible to compete. Are there other ways I can get involved with NASA?
We appreciate your enthusiasm for getting involved! On the topics pertaining to this challenge, you may want to visit lunasustain.nianet.org to participate in LunaSustain, a K-12 initiative connected to the LunaRecycle Challenge, managed by the National Institute of Aerospace. In addition, you can find more resources and programs for students and younger people at nasa.gov/learning-resources .
When are submissions due? The deadline for submissions is January 22, 2026 at 4:00PM Eastern Standard Time.
Can I use an AI to narrate my presentation for the Digital Twin solution? No, presentations should be narrated by the team leader and/or team members, not an AI.
Can I use a cloud drive like Google, Microsoft, or Dropbox to link to my video for the submission? Teams may use any platform to link to their video, as long as the link is publicly accessible. Please be sure that your link does not require any login or password. If judges cannot access your video, it is likely to negatively impact your score.
What format should I use for my submission? Teams should use the submission templates for their submission. There is a submission template for Prototype Solutions, Digital Twin Solutions, and the Preliminary Demonstration Proposal. All of these documents can be found on the Resources page of the University of Alabama challenge website: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/resources/.
Is Phase 2 open for submissions? Yes, Phase 2 Milestone Round submissions opened on October 1, 2025. You must first register your team before you submit your solution. Both registration and submission can be completed at the Institute of Competition Sciences platform: https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org. The deadline to register and submit is January 22, 2026 at 4:00PM Eastern Standard Time.
How do I submit my solution? Teams will submit their solutions at the Institute of Competition Sciences submission platform: https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org. After you have registered your team, click on the Rounds & Submissions tab to access the submission form. A tutorial on how to navigate the platform and the submission form is available on the Resources page of the University of Alabama challenge website: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/resources/.
Can I delete my team from the LunaRecycle Challenge? Yes, a team member who registered a team may log into their account at the Institute of Competition Sciences website https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org/ and delete their team(s) from the competition. To do so, go to your “My Teams” page on the user dashboard (https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org/dashboard/registrations). From there, select the team you wish to delete, and on the main “Team Info” tab, click the “Delete” button. Once confirmed, your team and all information will be removed from the competition.
I completed the registration process, how do I know that I am eligible?
After a team has completed all of the required steps to register, including uploading their completed team agreement and providing the required proof of citizenship for all team members and proof of insurance or financial responsibility, they will receive a communication explaining whether: 1) their registration has been verified; 2) their registration has not been verified because additional information is required; or 3) their registration has not been verified because they are not eligible. Registrations are expected to be reviewed and verified on a rolling basis.
What documents can I use to meet the Milestone Round insurance requirement?
As stated in the challenge rules, for the Milestone Round, teams are required to obtain liability insurance in the amount of $5,000 USD minimum that covers each team member or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility for that amount. To show evidence of insurance coverage, teams may submit a copy or screenshot of the policy declarations. To show evidence of financial responsibility, teams may submit a statement from a financial institution or screenshot of an account balance showing the required $5,000.
How do I submit my citizenship and insurance documents?
After you have created your account at the Institute of Competition Sciences website https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org/, you will have access to additional instructions for completing your registration, including how to submit your citizenship and insurance documents.
What documents can I use to verify my citizenship?
“There are several options for documents individuals can use to verify their citizenship, depending on their citizenship status.
For U.S. Citizens, evidence of Citizenship or Residence may include:
-U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
-U.S. Birth Certificate issued by a State, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States
-Certification of Report of Birth Abroad
-Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561)
-Naturalization Certificate (N-550, N-570)
-Form I-197, U.S. Citizen Identification Card
-Form I-179, Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States
-Native American tribal document
For U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders), evidence may include:
-Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
-I-551 Temporary Visa Stamp endorsed for Permanent Residency, plus copy of Foreign Passport
For non-U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents, evidence may include:
-Foreign Passport
-National Identification Card (for non-citizens residing outside of the United States of America)
-USCIS Travel Document
-A tribal membership document issued by a Canadian First Nation or A Certificate of Indian Status (commonly referred to as an “”INAC card””) issued by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
In the challenge rules, in Table 4, Eligible Trash Items, two of the links for commercially available equivalents (Rehydratable Pouch and Zotek F30) appear to be broken. Will you be providing an updated list of items with working links?
Yes, we apologize for the broken links and will be posting an updated list of commercially available equivalents with working links very soon. Please check the Resources page of the challenge website for updates: https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/resources/
We have a working prototype that exceeds the size and scale required by the challenge. Can we still compete? Any eligible team may compete if they address the requirements of the challenge. However, as stated in the challenge rules, NASA expects that there will inevitably be some constraints on the amount of space each team is allocated for the Final Round demonstration, based on the size of the facility or site. NASA will work with partners and teams to ensure that the space available for demonstration is congruent with the requirements of the challenge.
We have a solution currently operating in our lab. If we are invited to the Final Round can we demonstrate it at our site instead of the centralized demonstration site?
No, in order to keep the competition fair, all teams invited to compete in the Final Round must participate in the demonstration at the NASA-designated site in order to be eligible for a prize. As explained in the challenge rules, 50% of the final score will be based on this demonstration.
What is the expected level of fidelity for the digital twin? Is there some level that would be considered an over-engineered digital twin?
Teams are encouraged to submit digital twin solutions that are at the highest fidelity possible based on your team’s capabilities and resources. Digital twins should include as much data and detail necessary to mimic your prototype and fully address all of the challenge requirements described in the challenge rules.
The challenge rules state that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permitted in this challenge and teams may use AI to develop their solutions and prepare their submissions. Does this refer to traditional AI, which is used to analyze data, recognize patterns, provide insights, and make decisions, or generative AI, which is used to create new content?
Both traditional AI and generative AI are permitted in this challenge. If a team uses or incorporates traditional or generative AI in their recycling prototype or digital twin solution, they should describe it in the Vision and Innovation section of the submission. If a team uses generative AI to create any part of their submission materials (documents, presentations, images, videos, etc.), they must disclose it by answering a question on the submission form found on the submission platform: https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org.
I downloaded the rules and saw that a revision was made on September 12, 2025. What was the revision?
Minor technical corrections were made in the section Technical Requirements (Digital Twin Solutions) in Table 5. Planetary Environmental Conditions for Planetary Surface Operations Scenario. In Table 5, the Martian Environmental Conditions were updated with: the correct unit of measurement for atmospheric pressure outside on the surface; the correct gravity for inside a pressurized habitat; and the atmospheric composition.
Does reusing count as recycling? Meaning, if we find a different use for the material without changing its form factor, can we submit that as a solution?
No, teams must propose a solution that recycles one or more trash items, meaning that the trash item(s) are transformed into a useful feedstock or end product. Teams may not propose just the “reuse” of trash items as a solution.
How much surface area can the recycling solution occupy and what is the maximum mass?
There are no specific, numerical constraints on mass or volume in Phase 2 of the challenge. Teams should design their solution to address the minimum batch requirements explained in the challenge rules, and teams are encouraged through the judging criteria to minimize the mass and volume of their system. In addition, as noted in the challenge rules, in the Final Round Demonstration NASA expects that there will inevitably be some constraints on the amount of space each team is allocated for the demonstration, based on the size of the facility or site. NASA will work with partners and teams invited to compete in the Final Round to ensure that the space available for demonstration is congruent with the requirements of the challenge.
Are we allowed to use commercial off the shelf equipment for our solution? Is there a limit on how much of the solution uses commercial technologies?
The challenge seeks solutions that demonstrate innovative approaches to recycling, however, there are no specific restrictions on the use of commercial off the shelf technologies as part of a solution.
I am planning to design and build a prototype solution. Do I also need to develop a digital twin?
No, in Phase 2 of the challenge, the Prototype Solution is required, but a Digital Twin Solution is optional. Teams may decide if they want to develop a digital twin that models their prototype and compete for the digital twin prizes.
I want to compete for both prototype and digital twin prizes. Should my digital twin be a separate, different approach to recycling, like in Phase 1?
No, in Phase 2 of the challenge, a team’s digital twin (if they choose to develop one) should be a digital model of the team’s prototype solution, not an entirely different system or approach.
Should I include systems for sorting and cleaning trash items in my prototype solution?
“No, sorting of trash items and cleaning of trash items are not in the scope of this challenge. Teams may assume that all trash items are already sorted and clean and free of contamination.
Are there any examples of publicly available digital twins that potential competitors could look at as examples of the type of solution NASA is looking for?
We do not have any specific recommendations for examples of digital twins. The type of solution that NASA is looking for is one that successfully and robustly addresses all of the elements and criteria described in the challenge rules.
Are there any opportunities to collaborate with NASA researchers as part of this challenge?
No, there will not be any opportunities to collaborate with NASA researchers during the challenge.
Is the cost of the solution a factor in the judging? Is there a specific budget limitation for solutions?
No, cost is not a factor in the judging, and there is no limit on a team’s budget. In the Milestone Round, teams are required to submit an estimated budget for building their prototype solution; however, as stated in the challenge rules, this budget will only be used to assess how well the team has thought through the budget necessary to build their solution, if they are invited to compete in the Final Round.
Can my team have multiple submissions?
No, multiple submissions by the same team are not allowed in Phase 2. Each team may only submit one (1) Prototype Solution and one (1) Digital Twin Solution that models their prototype (if the team is competing for the digital twin prizes).
I participated in Phase 1 but was not chosen as a winner. Will I be able to receive feedback on why my solution was not chosen?
Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions and to ensure fairness among all teams, we cannot offer feedback to individual competitors on their submissions.
Where can I find information about webinars?
Information about each webinar will be posted at the University of Alabama website https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu.
How many webinars will be held?
We expect to hold four or five webinars between August and December 2025.
How do I register for webinars?
A webinar registration form will be available at the University of Alabama website https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu once each webinar is announced.
