NASA is well-known for finding out useful and unique ideas in difficult moments. The American space agency is attempting something different once again: it wants to recycle human waste such as the carbon dioxide we eliminate from our lungs or even poo, according to The Sun.
Why would NASA do such a thing? It’s simple: for scientific purposes. The space agency wants to use human waste for recycling it into various products. What kind of products? Products that would allow space missions to last longer and almost independent of the resources they have.
NASA needs YOUR help!
While NASA’s idea is great in theory, the astronomers still aren’t sure how exactly to put it into practice. That’s why they’re seeking help from the public through a new crowdsourcing challenge that carries the name ‘Waste to Base’. Anybody can go there and submit their ideas!
If your idea is indeed revolutionary and NASA accepts it, you can even win up to $1,000. There’s also a deadline, as you won’t get to participate after March 15. You’ll have to wait almost a month more to find out the winner of the challenge, who will be announced on April 22.
The website dedicated to the event explains:
This challenge is all about finding ways to convert waste into base materials and other useful things, like propellant or feedstock for 3D printing,
The challenge is looking for your ideas for how to convert different waste streams into propellant, and into useful materials, that can then be made into needed things and cycled through multiple times. While a perfectly efficient cycle is unlikely, ideal solutions will result in little to no waste.
Are you willing to accept the challenge? Feel free to leave us your opinion on the subject!