NASA Announces 2025 International Space Apps Challenge Global Winners

NASA Space Apps announced the 10 winners of the 2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge on Thursday. During the two-day hackathon, participants came together at 551 local events in 167 countries and territories to showcase their STEM skills and propose ways to turn NASA’s open data into actionable tools.

More than 114,000 participants came together to take on challenges created by NASA subject matter experts. These challenges ranged in complexity and topics, tasking participants with everything from harnessing artificial intelligence to improving access to NASA research and developing tools to assess air quality.

“The Space Apps Challenge puts NASA’s free and open data in the hands of explorers around the world,” said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Sciences Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “With participants as diverse as NASA enthusiasts, future scientists, regional decision-makers and members of the public, this challenge demonstrates the excitement generated by the discovery and real-world applications of the agency’s data. Space applications also foster a global community of creative and innovative ideas.”

Winners were determined from more than 11,500 project submissions and judged by subject matter experts from NASA and partner agencies:

Best Use of Science Award: SpaceGenes+
Team Members: Saloni T.
Challenge: Create a knowledge engine in space biology
Country/Territory: Germany

The SpaceGenes+ team created an interactive dashboard designed to help researchers uncover the joint impact of radiation and microgravity on astronaut health at the molecular level. It provides researchers and mission planners with a simple way to identify important molecular changes, thereby supporting more effective protection strategies for long-duration spaceflight.
Learn more about the SpaceGenes+ project

Best Use of Data Award: Resonant Exoplanets
Team members: Adhvaidh S., Gabriel S., Jack A., Sahil S.
Challenge: A world apart: searching for exoplanets with AI
Country/Territory: United States
The Resonant Exoplanets team has developed an AI-powered system that ingests large data sets from telescopes and satellites, including spectra from missions like the James Webb Space Telescope. This tool automatically analyzes exoplanet data and detects possible biosignatures, rather than identifying them manually.
Learn more about the Resonant Exoplanets project

Best Use of Technology Award: Twisters
Team members: Fernando A., Marcelo T., Mariana D., Regina R., Regina F.
Challenge: Will it rain on my parade?
Country/Territory: Mexico
Team Twisters has developed SkySense, a web application platform that uses NASA Earth observation data and AI analysis to provide ultra-local, personalized weather forecasts and analyze weather variables such as rain, wind, temperature, humidity and visibility, generating real-time risk assessments and suggesting the safest time slots for activities.
Learn more about the Twisters project

Galactic Impact Prize: Astro Sweepers: We catch what space leaves behind
Team members: Harshiv T., Pragathy S., Pratik J., Sherlin D., Yousra H., Zienab E.
Challenge: Commercializing Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Country/Territory: Universal Event
The Astro Sweepers team has developed an end-to-end orbital debris compliance and risk intelligence platform that automatically ingests public orbital data to generate Debris Assessment Software reports and calculate the Astro Sweepers Risk Index for each resident space object. This project takes into account the operational, regulatory and environmental challenges of commercialized space travel.
Learn more about the Astro Sweepers project

Best Mission Concept Award: PureFlow
Team members: Esthefany M., João F., Laiza L., Lara D., Pedro H., Thayane D.
Challenge: Your home in space: the home design creator
Country/Territory: Brazil
PureFlow has developed an interactive systems engineering platform that allows users to design, 3D model and validate space habitats, then test the design against real space weather threats, such as solar storms. This system takes into account the critical functions required for living in space, including waste management, power supply, life support, communications, etc.
Learn more about the PureFlows project

Most Inspiring Award: Photonics Odyssey
Team Members: Manish D., Deeraj K., Prasanth G., Rajalingam N., Rashi M., Sakthi R.
Challenge: Commercializing Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Country/Territory: India
Photonics Odyssey has reimagined satellite internet as a sovereign national infrastructure rather than a private utility, delivering a progressive array antenna approach that reduces reliance on ground and expands broadband access to remote parts of India. The concept aims to help connect more than 700 million people who do not have access to high-speed Internet.
Learn more about the Photonics Odysseys project

Award for best use of storytelling: HerCode Space
Team members: Alice R., Joselyn R., Paula C., Pierina J.
Challenge: Stellar Stories: Space Weather through the Eyes of Earthlings
Country/Territory: Universal Event
HerCode Space combined NASA data and heliophysics concepts with powerful storytelling and vibrant illustrations to teach children how space weather affects everyday life and why it matters. HerCode Science hopes its story, “A Solar Tale,” can connect science and imagination and bring heliophysics to life in classrooms, libraries and outreach programs.
Learn more about the HerCode Spaces project

Global Connection Award: Gaia+LEO
Team Members: Adam H., Katia L., Prajwal S., Upendra K.
Challenge: Commercializing Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Country/Territory: United States
The Gaia+LEO team developed a mixed-integer optimization framework that co-designs orbital and terrestrial data center networks to support large-scale AI training and on-orbit climate modeling. Their goal is to reduce the energy and water demands of Earth systems and help accelerate the transition to green and space computing within the emerging orbital economy.
Learn more about the Gaia+LEOs project

Art and Technology Prize: Zumorroda-X
Team members: Alaa A., Esraa A., Malak S., Mennatulla E.
Challenge: NASA Farm Navigators: Using NASA Data Mining in Agriculture
Country/Territory: Egypt
The Zumorroda-X team has created mini-games that allow players to step into the shoes of a farmer who embarks on an epic journey across the world. Through this game, players can discover how farmers around the world are adapting to heat waves, flooding, and other environmental challenges.
Learn more about the Zumorroda-Xs project

Local Impact Award: QUEÑARIS
Team members: Borax Q., Carlos Y., Marcelo S., Máximo S., Oscar M., Pamela P.
Challenge: BloomWatch: an Earth observation application for global flowering phenology
Country/Territory: Peru
The QUEÑARIS team’s project addresses the critical water shortage in Peru’s second largest city, Arequipa, caused by the degradation of queñua forests, which are vital for water retention. Their platform combines indigenous microorganisms, NASA satellite data, drones and artificial intelligence to accelerate tree growth, identify the best areas for reforestation and monitor ecosystem health.
Learn more about the QUEÑARIS project

Stay up to date with #SpaceApps by following these accounts:
X: @SpaceApps
Instagram: @nasa_spaceapps
Facebook: @spaceappschallenge
YouTube: @NASASpaceAppsChallenge

NASA Space Apps is funded by NASA’s Earth Sciences Division through a contract with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse.

To learn more about what inspired these winning projects, visit:

https://www.spaceappschallenge.org