NASA's always trying to reach new heights, setting its sights on, among other ambitious projects, reaching Mars in the next few decades.

But it has an urgent problem in completing them: It begins with a "P" and ends in an "oop."

Scientists are offering $30,000 to anyone who can solve this problem in what they've dubbed the Space Poop Challenge.

Launched on crowdsourcing platform HeroX, the Space Poop Challenge "seeks proposed solutions for urine, fecal and menstrual management systems to be used in the crew’s launch and entry suits over a continuous duration of up to 144 hours." The method must "operate in the conditions of space – where solids, fluids, and gases float around in microgravity ... and don't necessarily mix or act the way they would on earth."

Why haven't astronauts needed this kind of waste disposal before? According to the challenge's website, up until now crew members would be in their launch and entry suits for up to only 10 hours, and then those suits would be disposed of upon reaching outer space or re-entering Earth. In the meantime, if they needed to relieve themselves they would use diapers, which would also be disposed of.

"Future missions may require long-duration waste management for use by a pressurized suited crew member," the website explains. "In the event of cabin depressurization or other contingency, crew members may need to take refuge in their launch and entry suits for a long-duration."

Entrants have until Dec. 20 to submit their proposals, and HeroX, based on the evaluation of NASA specialists, will announce the winners on Jan. 31.