NASA Awards the Space Poop Challenge Winner with a $30,000 Grand Prize

NASA will pay $30,000 to the Space Poop Challenge winner.

One of the greatest issues astronauts have to face while traveling aboard spacecrafts is dealing with bowel movements. Hence, NASA has launched the Space Poop Challenge and offers a $30,000 reward to any person capable of providing a practical solution to this sensitive matter. However, in spite of its name, the challenge addresses a larger specter of human basic needs. In addition to solving the fecal matter disposal, NASA is also looking to deal with urine waste as well as menstrual residue.

NASA officially announced the start of the Space Poop Challenge last week on the HeroX crowdsourcing platform. The scientists urge the competitors to keep in mind that these matters do not act the same way as they do on Earth, provided that the gasses, fluids, and solids altogether float in microgravity. Hence, the methods to dispose of the human waste in space must adapt to this condition. Also, another requirement is that the new systems must provide comfort and a proper disposal for as many as 144 hours on end.

The Necessity of the Waste Disposal System for Future Missions

Up until now, astronauts could relieve themselves by using diapers, since they needed to wear the launch and entry suits for a relatively short period of time, approximately ten hours. However, according to NASA, future missions will be highly dependent on a more sophisticated waste disposal system.

One reason is to protect the crew members in case of a sudden depressurization. If this would happen, the astronauts could take refuge in their pressurized suit crew and not worry about dealing with bowel movements.

Space Poop Challenge Admissions

The participants can enter the Space Poop Challenge until December 20^th, 2016. According to the space agency, the contestants do not necessarily have to work in a field that involves dealing with microgravity. NASA will announce the winner on January 31^st, 2017 via the HeroX crowdsourcing platform.

Moreover, some individuals expect NASA to pay as much as $65 million in total for future similar challenges. Many believe that this has something to do with NASA engaging with Boeing and SpaceX in a race for Mars. The funds will enable companies to create ground prototype modules that would be consequently used as experiments, aiding NASA to better prepare for future launches.

Image Source: Pixabay

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About Andreas Petersen

Andreas was too little to remember when he and his parents first set foot in America. He considers himself a true American citizen, but uses every opportunity to promote his Danish origins. He is deeply found of politics, all nations’ politics and generally looks forward to the presidential elections. His BA degree in Political Sciences has helped him get familiar to the constitutional frames of US and non-US nations.