Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 24, 2024 / Notices 77897 

centennialchallenges@mail.nasa.gov. 

Phone: 256–544–1265. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA 

seeks to stimulate research and 

technology solutions to support future 

missions and inspire new national 

aerospace capabilities through public 

prize competitions called Centennial 

Challenges. The LunaRecycle Challenge 

is one such competition. Centennial 

Challenges are managed at NASA’s 

Marshall Space Flight Center in 

Huntsville, Alabama and are part of the 

Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing 

program within NASA’s Space 

Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) 

at the agency’s Headquarters in 

Washington. 

The LunaRecycle Challenge is a prize 

competition with up to a $3,000,000.00 

USD total prize purse to incentivize 

innovative approaches to develop and 

demonstrate novel recycling 

technologies and/or systems to convert 

solid (non-gaseous, non-biological, and 

non-metabolic) lunar waste streams into 

usable resources. This challenge has two 

tracks, Digital Twin track and Prototype 

Build track. At this time, NASA is 

opening Phase 1 of the competition, 

which has a $1,000,000 USD prize 

purse. In this phase of competition, 

teams in the Digital Twin track will 

design a preliminary (low-fidelity) 

digital twin and visualization of their 

solution and teams in the Prototype 

Build track will develop a detailed 

design of their solution. Teams are not 

required to build or submit any 

hardware in Phase 1. 

NASA is providing the prize purse for 

U.S. Teams, and the University of 

Alabama will be conducting the 

Challenge on behalf of NASA. NASA is 

considering a Phase 2 of the competition 

depending on the outcome of the Phase 

1 competition. 

Summary 

NASA is committed to sustainable 

space exploration. As NASA prepares 

for future human space missions, there 

will be a need to consider how various 

waste streams, including solid waste, 

can be minimized as well as how waste 

can be stored, processed, and recycled 

in a space environment so that little or 

no waste will need to be returned to 

Earth. In addition, NASA’s STMD, 

which leads the development and 

demonstration of transformational 

technologies, has identified a number of 

research areas requiring further 

investment to meet future exploration, 

science, and other mission needs. These 

include topics such as trash 

management for habitation, in-space 

and on-surface manufacturing from 

recycled materials, and digital 

transformation technologies for 

terrestrial, in-Space, on-Surface 

manufacturing and operations—all of 

which may be addressed through this 

challenge. By utilizing open innovation 

strategies in this area, NASA has the 

opportunity to incentivize novel 

solutions to the challenges of waste in 

space and ensure the sustainability of 

future space exploration, industrial 

activities, and habitats. 

Through LunaRecycle challenge, 

NASA seeks to incentivize the design 

and development of innovative, 

sustainable recycling solutions that can 

address the types of solid waste 

expected to accumulate during longerterm missions on the lunar surface. 

Phase 1 of the LunaRecycle challenge 

is focused on incentivizing recycling 

solutions for the lunar surface that 

maximize the amount of waste that can 

be recycled from a list of waste 

categories and items that are relevant to 

a hypothetical 365-day lunar mission. 

NASA is seeking designs that minimize 

resource inputs; unusable outputs; and 

the mass and/or volume of hardware 

components and systems needed for 

recycling. For the Digital Twin track, 

NASA is also seeking highly innovative 

and imaginative solutions that harness 

the full potential of a digital twin. In 

Phase 1, Teams will have approximately 

six (6) months to register and submit 

solutions. Phase 1 will last a total of 

eight (8) months, including 

approximately two (2) months of 

judging. 

I. Prize Amounts 

The LunaRecyle Challenge offers a 

total prize purse up to $3,000,000.00 

USD (three million United States 

dollars) to be awarded across two (2) 

phases of competition. 

Prize purse for Phase 1 will total up 

to $1,000,000.00 USD (one million 

United States dollars), with the 

following prize distribution: 

• Up to 8 top scoring U.S. Teams in 

the Digital Twin Track will receive 

$50,000.00 each. 

• Up to 8 top scoring U.S. Teams in 

the Protype Build Track will receive 

$75,000.00 each. 

The Prize Purse for Phase 2, should 

there be promising submissions in 

Phase 1 that demonstrate a viable 

approach, will be worth up to 

$2,000,000.00. 

II. Eligibility To Participate and Win 

Prize Money 

To be eligible to win a prize, 

competitors must register and comply 

with all requirements in the Official 

Rules. Interested Teams should refer to 

the Official Challenge website (https://

lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/) for full 

details on eligibility and registration. 

III. Official Rules 

The complete rules for the 

LunaRecycle Challenge, can be found at: 

https://lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu/. 

IV. Further Information 

For general information on the NASA 

Centennial Challenges please visit: 

https://www.nasa.gov/prizes-challengesand-crowdsourcing/centennialchallenges/. 

For general information on NASA 

prize competitions, challenges, and 

crowdsourcing opportunities, please 

visit: https://www.nasa.gov/prizeschallenges-and-crowdsourcing/. 

Emily Pellegrino, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2024–21743 Filed 9–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7510–13–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Comment Request; NSF 

Small Business Innovation Research 

(SBIR) Program Phase I, NSF Small 

Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 

Program Phase I, and NSF SBIR/STTR 

Fast-Track Pilot Pre-Submission 

Project Pitch Form 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; 

comment request. 

SUMMARY: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 

following information collection 

requirement to OMB for review and 

clearance under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. This is the 

second notice for public comment; the 

first was published in the Federal 

Register, and no comments were 

received. NSF is forwarding the 

proposed submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

clearance simultaneously with the 

publication of this second notice. 

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAmain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 

Officer, National Science Foundation, 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
77898 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 24, 2024 / Notices 

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, 

Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292– 

7556; or send email to splimpto@

nsf.gov. Individuals who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 

8339, which is accessible 24 hours a 

day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year 

(including Federal holidays). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments: Comments regarding (a) 

whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

NSF, including whether the information 

shall have practical utility; (b) the 

accuracy of the NSF’s estimate of the 

burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (c) ways to enhance the 

quality, use, and clarity of the 

information on respondents; and (d) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology 

should be addressed to the points of 

contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section. 

Copies of the submission may be 

obtained by calling 703–292–7556. NSF 

may not conduct or sponsor a collection 

of information unless the collection of 

information displays a currently valid 

OMB control number, and the agency 

informs potential persons who are to 

respond to the collection of information 

that such persons are not required to 

respond to the collection of information 

unless it displays a currently valid OMB 

control number. 

Title of Collection: NSF Small 

Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 

Program Phase I, NSF Small Business 

Technology Transfer (STTR) Program 

Phase I, and NSF Fast-Track Pilot Presubmission Project Pitch Form. 

OMB Control No.: 3145–NEW. 

Abstract: The NSF Small Business 

Innovation Research Program (SBIR) 

Phase I, Small Business Technology 

Transfer Program (STTR) Phase I, and 

SBIR/STTR Fast-Track Pilot Project 

Pitch is an NSF SBIR/STTR presubmission process that conveys 

information needed to direct the 

proposed SBIR/STTR project to the 

appropriate NSF Program Director (PD) 

for review and possible proposal 

submission invitation. The Project Pitch 

is to be submitted by the applying small 

business concern (as ‘‘proposer’’) to the 

relevant NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I or 

Fast-Track Pilot technology topic. The 

Project Pitch outlines solicitationspecific aspects of the project (such as 

the proposed technology innovation)) 

and captures the same requested 

information, as outlined in the NSF 

SBIR/STTR Phase I and Fast-Track 

Program solicitations, but all within one 

secure, web-based form. Specifically, 

the form collects the submitting 

proposer company and team 

information, the proposed technology 

innovation; the technical objectives and 

challenges, and the market opportunity. 

The form also allows the proposer to 

choose (from a drop-down menu) the 

most relevant NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I 

and Fast-Track Pilot technical topic 

area, ensuring that the submitted Project 

Pitch goes to the most appropriate 

Program Director. For the SBIR/STTR 

Fast-Track Pilot submission, the Project 

Pitch encompasses the same questions 

as outlined in the Phase I Project Pitch 

but also seeks responses to three key 

eligibility requirements: NSF lineage, 

customer-discovery experience, and 

confirmation that the team members are 

currently employed by the company. 

These requirements expand on the 

details of the previously required 

information on the proposed technology 

innovation, the market opportunity, and 

the company and team, respectively. 

Respondents: Small business 

concerns who submit proposals to 

NSF’s SBIR/STTR Phase I and FastTrack Pilot Programs. 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Respondents: 2,500. 

Burden on the Public: 3 hours (per 

response) for an annual total of 7,500 

hours. 

Dated: September 19, 2024. 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, 

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 

Foundation. 

[FR Doc. 2024–21843 Filed 9–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Comment Request; Louis 

Stokes Alliances for Minority 

Participation (LSAMP) Program 

Evaluation 

AGENCY: National Science Foundation. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Science 

Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans 

to establish this collection. In 

accordance with the requirements of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we 

are providing the opportunity for public 

comment on this action. After obtaining 

and considering public comment, NSF 

will prepare the submission requesting 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) clearance of this collection for no 

longer than 3 years. 

DATES: Written comments on this notice 

must be received by November 25, 2024 

to be assured consideration. Comments 

received after that date will be 

considered to the extent Practicable. 

Send comments to the address below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 

Officer, National Science Foundation, 

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite E6447, 

Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone 

(703) 292–7556; or send email to 

splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use 

a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 

800–877– 8339, which is accessible 24 

hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a 

year (including Federal holidays). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments: Comments regarding (a) 

whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

NSF, including whether the information 

shall have practical utility; (b) the 

accuracy of the NSF’s estimate of the 

burden of the proposed collection of 

information; (c) ways to enhance the 

quality, use, and clarity of the 

information on respondents; and (d) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology 

should be addressed to the points of 

contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section. 

Title of Collection: Louis Stokes 

Alliances for Minority Participation 

(LSAMP) Program Evaluation. 

OMB Control No.: 3145–NEW. 

Expiration Date of Approval: Not 

applicable. 

Abstract: This proposed data 

collection is a core component of a 

larger comprehensive evaluation 

strategy to assess the effectiveness and 

functioning of the Louis Stokes 

Alliances for Minority Participation 

(LSAMP) program, funded through 

grants from the National Science 

Foundation (NSF). LSAMP alliances are 

entities at member higher education 

institutions that support the learning 

and development of STEM 

undergraduates from underrepresented 

backgrounds. 

This current research seeks to 

consider the experiences of those 

leading and participating in LSAMP 

since the last full evaluation (which 


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