Washington, December 19 (IANS). An Indian team has secured first place in the world in NASA’s ‘2025 International Space Apps Challenge’. This team has given the idea of a special satellite internet system, through which easy and fast internet can be provided even in remote areas of the country. This information was given by the American space agency NASA.
Chennai team ‘Photonics Odyssey’ has received the ‘Most Inspirational Award’. This team has suggested viewing satellite internet as a public facility of the country rather than a private service.
The aim of this project is to connect about 700 million people of India with the Internet who currently do not have broadband access. According to NASA Space Apps, this team includes Manish D., M.K., Prashant G., Rajalingam N., Rashi M. and Shakthi R. Are included.
NASA said the 2025 edition of its flagship global hackathon attracted more than 114,000 participants across 551 local events in 167 countries and territories. It was recognized as one of NASA’s largest international science and technology partnerships.
The winners were selected from more than 11,500 project submissions, which were selected by experts from NASA and its partner organizations.
Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, said the Space Apps Challenge brings NASA’s open and free data to people around the world so they can make new discoveries and solutions.
The competition also had a strong presence of Indian-origin students and participants, highlighting the active role of the Indian diaspora in global science and technology innovation.
The ‘Best Use of Data Award’ went to the American team ‘Resonant Exoplanets’. This team has created a system based on AI, which can automatically analyze big data received from telescopes and satellites and identify new planets.
‘Astro Sweepers’, another team with participants of Indian origin, received the ‘Galactic Impact Award’. This team included Harshiv T., Pragathi S., Prateek J., Sherlyn D., Yusra H., and Zeinab E.. Their project has been designed keeping in mind the technical, legal and environmental problems associated with increasing commercial activities in low Earth orbit.
It is noteworthy that the International Space Apps Challenge was started in the year 2012. This is NASA’s annual global competition, which aims to inspire people to find solutions to real-world problems using NASA’s open data.
–IANS
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