# A Challenge to Doper Engineers -- Tell NASA how to Mine the Moon
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 20, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016 "2021-01-20T19:40:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016/1 "2021-01-20T19:40:52Z")
I just learned about this. NASA has a broad challenge out there for people to propose effective methods of mining lunar resources and shipping them to the south (lunar) pole for processing.
> [@](#):
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> **Dig In: NASA Challenge Seeks Innovations to Excavate Moon Resources**
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> From garage inventors to university students and entrepreneurs, NASA is looking for ideas on how to excavate the Moon’s icy regolith, or dirt, and deliver it to a hypothetical processing plant at the lunar South Pole. The NASA Break the Ice Lunar Challenge, now open for registration, is designed to develop new technologies that could support a sustained human presence on the Moon by the end of the decade.
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> “We are excited about this opportunity to broaden our community engagement in the [Artemis](https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/) program and explore new infrastructure approaches for the Moon,” said NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate Jim Reuter. "As outlined in our [plan](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-outlines-lunar-surface-sustainability-concept) for sustained lunar exploration and development, NASA is pursuing technology development that allows future explorers to [live off the land](https://www.nasa.gov/isru). With this challenge, we’re soliciting fresh ideas from outside the traditional aerospace sector for acquiring and processing resources needed to support long-duration human surface exploration.”
It’s apparently open to anyone, and the prize is a portion of the $500,000 Phase I prize purse
> [@](#):
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> The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge will take place over two phases.
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> Phase 1 seeks new ideas and approaches for a system architecture capable of excavating and moving icy regolith and water on the lunar surface. [Eligible Phase 1 participants](https://breaktheicechallenge.com/rules-eligibility/) must submit a system architecture report, excavation plan, and mission animation by June 18, 2021 that addresses various operations and environmental conditions of a [hypothetical excavation mission](https://breaktheicechallenge.com/mission-scenario/) on the lunar surface. The entries will compete for a portion of the $500,000 Phase 1 prize purse.
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> The initiation of Phase 2, the demonstration phase, is contingent on the emergence of promising submissions in Phase 1 that demonstrate viable approaches to achieving the challenge goals. Phase 2 would carry a prize purse of up to $4.5 million.
> **[Dig In: NASA Challenge Seeks Innovations to Excavate Moon Resources - NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/marshall/dig-in-nasa-challenge-seeks-innovations-to-excavate-moon-resources/)**
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> From garage inventors to university students and entrepreneurs, NASA is looking for ideas on how to excavate the Moon’s icy regolith, or dirt, and deliver it
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016/2 "2021-01-20T21:00:04Z")
I thought space treaties prevent any one nation from claiming extra-terrestrial resources.
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### Author:  [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2021, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016/3 "2021-01-20T23:40:24Z")
Artemes statement says "We will collaborate with our commercial and **international partners** and establish sustainable exploration by the end of the decade. "
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### Author:  [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2021, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016/4 "2021-01-21T01:13:13Z")
They’ve also announced a challenge, with a $500k prize purse, for ideas on how to provide astronauts healthy, tasty food for longer missions to Mars and beyond.
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### Author:  [@CoconutPete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoconutPete)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016/5 "2021-01-21T01:20:09Z")
First there will need to be a sufficient amount of whaling done.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2021, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-doper-engineers-tell-nasa-how-to-mine-the-moon/931016/6 "2021-01-21T01:59:20Z")
Nuke the gray (lunar) whales!