Design of an AI Trash Sorting Machine for Use on the Moon and Mars

Steven Sepka; Justine Richardson; Lance Delzeit; Ray Pitts; Jennifer Jones; Greg S Pace; Serena Trieu; Janine Young

NASA NTRS · 20260003968

Design of an AI Trash Sorting Machine for Use on the Moon and Mars

Steven Sepka·Justine Richardson·Lance Delzeit·Ray Pitts·Jennifer Jones·Greg S Pace·Serena Trieu·Janine Young

Abstract

As NASA prepares for Mars colonization, resource conservation will be critical for survival. Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered waste sorting technologies, already emerging on Earth, offer promising solutions for recycling and material recovery. These systems use advanced sensors and machine learning algorithms to identify and separate materials with remarkable accuracy. On Mars, where every item has significant value, efficient recycling will be essential to reduce resupply needs and support closed-loop life support systems. This paper explores how terrestrial AI-based trash sorting technologies can be adapted for Martian conditions, focusing on challenges such as the harsh surface environment, minimizing system mass, power, volume, and estimating waste composition. Addressing these issues will be key to enabling sustainable operations on the Red Planet.

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Steven Sepka, Justine Richardson, Lance Delzeit, Ray Pitts, Jennifer Jones, Greg S Pace, Serena Trieu, Janine Young. Design of an AI Trash Sorting Machine for Use on the Moon and Mars. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20260003968

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