Under Artemis, NASA plans to return to the Moon using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. This will require lunar surface systems that can deliver continuous, reliable power to support mining and construction, research activities, and human habitation.
The newest phase of NASA’s Watts on the
Moon Challenge offers up to $4.5 million in prizes
to design, build, and demonstrate a prototype that addresses technology gaps in
power transmission and energy storage. Maximizing system efficiency and
minimizing system mass will be an important part of what the challenge
participants address in their designs, given that transporting all the needed
equipment to sustain human presence on the lunar surface will require multiple
missions. This challenge seeks advanced technology that is well-positioned to
progress toward flight readiness and future operation on the lunar surface
after the challenge.
"Challenges like Watts on the Moon give us the
chance to utilize the creativity of industry, academia, and the public to power
our return to the Moon,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for NASA’s
Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “I
look forward to seeing how their solutions may also have important applications
here on Earth and help advance similar technologies for terrestrial application
and commercialization.”
Phase 1 of Watts on the Moon opened in September 2020
and focused on the ideation of energy management, distribution, and storage
solutions. In May 2021, seven winners were awarded a total of $500,000. To compete in Phase 1, teams had to submit
ideas to support aspects of a hypothetical mission scenario – harvesting water
and oxygen from a dark crater at the Moon's South Pole with energy generated by
a power plant located on the crater's outer rim.
NASA invites previous participants as well as new
teams to compete in Phase 2.
"We encourage the academic and private sectors to
submit entries or even join forces to do so,” said Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis,
director for NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. “Here at NASA Glenn, we design, develop, and test
innovative technologies to advance NASA’s missions in aeronautics and
space exploration. As we lead this challenge, we look forward to many
innovations to power operations on the Moon and beyond.”
Teams can register to compete on the challenge site by
4 p.m. CDT on June 15, 2022. Phase 2 of the challenge will last
approximately 30 months and will take place in three segments, called
competition levels. In each competition level, eligible teams will submit the
required materials and will be evaluated on their submission and scored by the
judging panel. Up to seven winners from competition level one will advance to
level two and will be awarded part of prize purse up to $1.4 million. Up to
four winners from competition level two will advance to level three and will be
awarded a part of a prize purse up to $1.6 million. Up to two teams will be recognized
as winners in competition level three, where the first-place team will be
awarded $1 million, and second place will be awarded $500,000.
The Watts on the Moon Challenge is managed by Centennial Challenges,
based at the agency’s Marshall
Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Centennial
Challenges is a part of the Prizes, Challenges,
and Crowdsourcing program within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA’s
Glenn Research Center is the lead center for the challenge and is responsible
for defining the challenge goals, success criteria, technology, and infusion
paths. Centennial Challenges has contracted HeroX to support the administration of this challenge.
For more information about the challenge, go to: https://nasa.gov/wattson
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