The Lunar Loo Challenge tasks participants with designing toilets for the Moon's surface—unlike current space systems built for microgravity. A 9-year-old Malaysian boy impressed judges with his clever Spacesuit Lunar Toilet concept.
NASA has prioritized space toilets for deep-space missions. In June 2020, the International Space Station (ISS) installed an advanced system supporting Moon and Mars exploration. The Orion capsule's facilities also faced odor issues needing fixes.
Enter NASA's Lunar Loo Challenge: create toilets functional on the lunar surface. As the Malay Mail reported on November 5, 2020, 9-year-old Pei Yong Tan from Malaysia claimed victory with his Spacesuit Lunar Toilet—a breakthrough design.
Tan’s device integrates into the astronaut’s suit, allowing use without doffing it. In microgravity, vacuum suction powered by kinetic mechanical energy handles liquids—no electricity needed.
It excels in lunar gravity too, via manual leg movement activating suction. Waste collects in a compact suit bin, with a syringe pump in the boot and vacuum container in the trouser pocket.
This refines Apollo 11 spacesuits, where astronauts used a condom-shaped cuff draining to bags—plagued by NASA-noted leaks.
Tan’s win topped 900 entries from 85 countries in the Lunar Loo Challenge. His design could shape NASA’s Artemis program for 2024 Moon landings. He shares the under-11 prize with UK’s Joel John Arun and his Artemis Easy Loo (AEL).
