Indian Team Wins NASA's 2025 Space Apps Challenge" style="max-width:100%;height:auto;" />Washington, December 19. An Indian team has secured the top position in NASA’s ‘2025 International Space Apps Challenge’. This team proposed a unique Satellite Internet system that aims to provide easy and fast internet access to remote areas of the country. This was announced by NASA, the American space agency.
The Chennai-based team, ‘Photonics Odyssey’, received the ‘Most Inspirational Award’. They suggested viewing satellite internet as a public utility rather than a private service.
The project aims to connect approximately 700 million people in India who currently lack broadband facilities. According to NASA Space Apps, the team comprises Manish D., M. K., Prashant G., Rajalingam N., Rashi M., and Shakti R.
Nasa highlighted that over 114,000 participants from 167 countries and regions took part in more than 551 local events for this major global hackathon. It is considered one of NASA’s largest international collaborations in science and technology.
The winners were selected from over 11,500 project submissions, evaluated by experts from NASA and its partner organizations.
NASA’s Earth Science Division Director, Karen St. Germain, stated that the Space Apps Challenge makes NASA’s open and free data accessible to people worldwide, enabling them to discover new solutions.
There was also a strong presence of participants of Indian origin in the competition, showcasing the active role of the Indian diaspora in global science and technological innovation.
The ‘Best Use of Data Award’ went to the American team ‘Resonant Exoplanets’. They developed an AI-based system that can autonomously analyze large datasets from telescopes and satellites to identify new planets.
Another team with Indian-origin participants, ‘Astro Sweepers’, received the ‘Galactic Impact Award’. This team included Harshiv T., Pragathi S., Prateek J., Sherlyn D., Yusra H., and Zeenab E. Their project addresses the technical, legal, and environmental challenges associated with increasing commercial activities in Earth’s lower orbit.
Notably, the International Space Apps Challenge began in 2012 and is NASA’s annual global competition aimed at inspiring people to use NASA’s open data to find solutions to real-world problems.
