As NASA prepares to return to the Moon as part of its Artemis program, the administration is calling on the public to help in craft a "lunar loo" — a toilet that can withstand both micro and lunar gravity. To solve this issue, NASA launched the Lunar Loo Challenge, asking innovators from around the globe to send in their solutions through the crowdsourcing platform HeroX.
NASA is offering a substantial incentive to join the cause including $35,000 in total prizes as well as public recognition from NASA and from HeroX, a winner’s certificate, and an item of official NASA-logoed merchandise.
The Lunar Loo Challenge will begin receiving submissions on June 25, 2020, and ends on Augst 17, 2020.
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What's Driving This Trend
- Crowdsourcing
- Opportunity to leverage the power of the crowd to design innovative solutions for complex challenges like creating a lunar toilet.
- Microgravity Technology
- Advancements in technology to develop toilet systems that can function in both microgravity and lunar gravity environments.
- Space Exploration
- Increasing focus on space exploration opens up opportunities for disruptive innovations in various sectors, including toilet design for future lunar missions.
Who This Affects Most
- Space Technology
- Opportunity for space technology companies to develop innovative toilet systems for future lunar missions.
- Crowdsourcing Platforms
- Crowdsourcing platforms like HeroX have the potential to facilitate innovation and problem-solving for organizations in various industries, including space exploration.
- Consumer Products
- The need for a lunar toilet presents an opportunity for consumer product companies to design and produce specialized products for space travel.
