For over 50 years, 96 bags of human waste—left by Apollo astronauts—have been lying untouched on the Moon. What was once considered garbage is now being seen as a golden opportunity for space innovation. Apollo waste may shape the future of space travel Between 1969 and 1972, six Apollo missions left behind more than moon rocks. Due to limited space on their return, astronauts abandoned bags containing urine, feces, and vomit. Now, NASA wants to turn that old waste into something useful. To spark innovation, NASA has launched the LunaRecycle Challenge, offering $3 million (Rs 25 crore) to anyone who can develop technology that transforms lunar waste into valuable resources—like water, energy, nutrients, or fertilizer. “Nasa is committed to sustainable space exploration. As we prepare for future human space missions, there will be a need to consider how various waste streams, including solid waste, can be minimized — as well as how waste can be stored, processed, and recycled in a space environment so that little or no waste will need to be returned to Earth,” NASA said on its website. “The challenge also can influence and inspire better approaches and outcomes for terrestrial recycling-through entirely novel approaches, through processes that improve efficiency and reduce toxic outputs, and through smaller-scale technologies that could be deployed in communities around the globe.” Recycling is key for future moon missions As NASA gears up for its Artemis mission to build habitats on the Moon, recycling waste becomes a top priority. Returning trash to Earth isn’t practical. Instead, space missions must adopt sustainable systems that reuse everything possible. NASA stresses the need for closed-loop systems that can handle all types of waste while keeping the environment safe. These systems are vital for long-term survival in space—and the tech we create today could even help us solve waste issues back on Earth.
