Envision the day when we see real magazine covers containing images and stories of comfortable living on the Moon. Adventurers may even rent a lunar habitat as a getaway. Before this vision becomes a reality, there are lots of challenges to establish safe and sustainable lunar living.
We know that it is going to take many minds and ideas to achieve our goals. We need ideas that can help us reduce the supplies we send, leverage lunar resource mining, protect from radiation and extreme temperatures, avoid damage from lunar dust, and deploy systems that can help us navigate precision landings while avoid hazards. Solving our challenges will require advancing our technology as we progress toward sustained lunar living.
To compete in this challenge, submit an idea that will assist NASA with advancing technology to establish our lunar lifestyle.
This challenge will award three cash prizes as shown below which will be paid to the designated captain of the winning teams; distribution among the team participants is the responsibility of the team captain. Taxes will not be withheld; any tax obligation will be the responsibility of the winning team members.
- First Place: $5,000
- Second Place: $3,000
- Third Place: $2,000
Additional entries may be acknowledged in a non-cash Honorable Mention category. US Citizenship is not required for Honorable Mentions.
All team members for cash prize and Honorable Mention awards will receive a free Lunar Living t-shirt if a US Mailing address can be provided.
The initial proposal (up to three pages) should include the following sections in the PDF document submitted:
- Executive Summary
- The problem your innovation aims to solve and how it will significantly enhance at least one critical aspect of human spaceflight (safety, affordability, schedule, capability).
- Your innovation, it's underlying principles of operation, and how it can be integrated into existing systems to significantly enhance human spaceflight. Include supporting data.
- Next steps to advance your innovation.
- Current level of technical readiness (TRL) and supporting explanation (https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/458490main_TRL_Definitions.pdf)
Additional information:
- Team member bios and resumes may be included and should be limited to 1 page per person. They do not count toward the 3 page limit.
- References should be in an appendix. They do not count toward the 3 page limit.
- Documents should be submitted in PDF format.
- Minimum font size is 12 pt.
