In 2017, long-time inventor and astronomy enthusiast Hugh McCarroll was named one of 15 finalists in a global competition designed by NASA. The idea was to crowdsource ideas for how to collect human waste away from the body, hands-free, for fully suited astronauts for up to a six-day period. The Space Poop Challenge elicited almost 8,000 entries. Although Hamilton-based Hugh didn't win first prize, he was "over the moon" to make the final 15.

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