NASA Awards First Prize in Phase 2 of Agency’s LunaRecycle Challenge

NASA has awarded MIT's CERBERUZ team the first prize in Phase 2 of the agency's LunaRecycle Challenge. The MIT team, comprising undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students, was recognized for their innovative project Composites for Extraterrestrial Recycling By Engineering the Reuse and Upcycling of Zotek (CERBERUZ). The competition focused on developing solutions to reduce waste during lunar and deep space missions by recycling common materials like fabrics, plastics, foams, and metals.

The CERBERUZ system works by grinding mixed trash into a fine powder, which can be repurposed as reinforcement for injection-molded parts or 3D-printing filament. This technology allows for the recycling of materials such as Zotek foam, turning what would typically be considered contamination into valuable feedstock.

MIT won both the prototype development track and the digital twin track, which involves creating virtual models of recycling systems. Jennifer Edmunson, program manager for Centennial Challenges at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, noted the impressive progress made in just two years, stating that it's incredible to see these technologies move from concept to prototype and virtual model demonstrations.

Phase 2 of the LunaRecycle Challenge required teams to submit a prototype, with an optional digital twin. The competition was held at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa from August 24 to August 28, 2024, where 14 finalist teams from across the United States showcased their technologies. In addition to MIT's first-place win, nine other teams received prizes in various categories, including Prototype, Most Innovative, Highest Mass Efficiency, Most Trash Types Recycled, and People's Choice.