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NASA International Space Apps Challenge Announces 2024 Global Winners

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NASA International Space Apps Challenge Announces 2024 Global Winners

blue graphical representation of Earth
The 2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge was hosted at 485 events in 163 countries and territories.
Credits: NASA

NASA Space Apps has named 10 global winners, recognizing teams from around the world for their exceptional innovation and collaboration during the 2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge. As the largest annual global hackathon, this event invites participants to leverage open data from NASA and its space agency partners to tackle real-world challenges on Earth and in space.

Last year’s hackathon welcomed 93,520 registered participants, including space, science, technology, and storytelling enthusiasts of all ages. Participants gathered at local events in 163 countries and territories, forming teams to address the challenges authored by NASA subject matter experts. These challenges included subjects/themes/questions in ocean ecosystems, exoplanet exploration, Earth observation, planetary seismology, and more.

The 2024 Global Winners were determined out of 9,996 project submissions and judged by subject matter experts from NASA and space agency partners.

“These 10 exceptional teams created projects that reflect our commitment to understanding our planet and exploring beyond, with the potential to transform Earth and space science for the benefit of all,” said Dr. Keith Gaddis, NASA Space Apps Challenge program scientistat NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The NASA Space Apps Challenge showcases the potential of every idea and individual. I am excited to see how these innovators will shape and inspire the future of science and exploration.”

You can watch the Global Winners Announcement here to meet these winning teams and learn about the inspiration behind their projects.

2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge Global Winners

Best Use of Science Award: WMPGang

Team Members: Dakota C., Ian C., Maximilian V., Simon S.

Challenge: Create an Orrery Web App that Displays Near-Earth Objects

Country/Territory: Waterloo,Canada

Using their skills in programming, data analysis, and visualization, WMPGang created a web app that identifies satellite risk zones using real-time data on Near-Earth Objects and meteor streams.

Best Use of Data Award: GaamaRamma

Team Members: Aakash H., Arun G., Arthur A., Gabriel A., May K.

Challenge: Leveraging Earth Observation Data for Informed Agricultural Decision-Making

Country/Territory: Universal Event, United States

GaamaRamma’s team of tech enthusiasts aimed to create a sustainable way to help farmers efficiently manage water availability in the face of drought, pests, and disease.

Best Use of Technology Award: 42 QuakeHeroes

Team Members: Alailton A., Ana B., Gabriel C., Gustavo M., Gustavo T., Larissa M.

Challenge: Seismic Detection Across the Solar System

Country/Territory: Maceió, Brazil

Team 42 QuakeHeroes employed a deep neural network model to identify the precise locations of seismic events within time-series data. They used advanced signal processing techniques to isolate and analyze unique components of non-stationary signals.

Galactic Impact Award: NVS-knot

Team Members: Oksana M., Oleksandra M., Prokipchyn Y., Val K.

Challenge:  Leveraging Earth Observation Data for Informed Agricultural Decision-Making

Country/Territory: Kyiv, Ukraine

The NVS-knot team assessed planting conditions using surface soil moisture and evapotranspiration data, then created an app that empowers farmers to manage planting risks.

Best Mission Concept Award: AsturExplorers

Team Members: Coral M., Daniel C., Daniel V., Juan B., Samuel G., Vladimir C.

Challenge: Landsat Reflectance Data: On the Fly and at Your Fingertips

Country/Territory: Gijón, Spain

AsturExplorers created Landsat Connect, a web app that provides a simple, intuitive way to track Landast satellites and access Landsat surface reflectance data. The app also allows users to set a target location and receive notifications when Landsat satellites pass over their area.

Most Inspirational Award: Innovisionaries

Team Members: Rikzah K., Samira K., Shafeeqa J., Umamah A.

Challenge: SDGs in the Classroom

Country/Territory: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Innovisionaries developed Eco-Metropolis to inspire sustainability through gameplay. This city-building game engages players in making critical urban planning and resource management decisions based on real-world environmental data.

Best Storytelling Award: TerraTales

Team Members: Ahmed R., Fatma E., Habiba A., Judy A., Maya M.

Challenge: Tell Us a Climate Story!

Country/Territory: Cairo, Egypt

TerraTales shared stories of how Earth’s changing climate affects three unique regions: Egypt, Brazil, and Germany. The web app also features an artificial intelligence (AI) model for climate forecasting and an interactive game to encourage users to make eco-friendly choices.

Global Connection Award: Asteroid Destroyer

Team Members: Kapeesh K., Khoi N., Sathyajit L., Satyam S.

Challenge: Navigator for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO): Mapping the Characterizable Exoplanets in our Galaxy

Country/Territory: Saskatoon, Canada

Team Asteroid Destroyer honed in on exoplanets, utilizing data processing and machine learning techniques to map exoplanets based on size, temperature, and distance.

Art & Technology Award: Connected Earth Museum

Team Members: Gabriel M., Luc R., Lucas R., Mattheus L., Pedro C., Riccardo S.

Challenge: Imagine our Connected Earth

Country/Territory: Campinas, Brazil

Team Connected Earth Museum created an immersive virtual museum experience to raise awareness of Earth’s changing climate. An AI host guides users through an interactive gallery featuring 3D and 2D visualizations, including a time series on Earth and ocean temperatures, population density, wildfires, and more.

Local Impact Award: Team I.O.

Team Members: Frank R., Jan K., Raphael R., Ryan Z., Victoria M.

Challenge: Community Mapping

Country/Territory: Florianópolis, Brazil

Team I.O. bridges the gap between complex Geographic Information Systems data and user-friendly communication, making critical environmental information accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise.

Want to take part in the 2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge? Mark your calendars for October 4 and 5! Registration will open in July. At that time, participants will be able to register for a local event hosted by NASA Space Apps leads from around the world. You can stay connected with NASA Space Apps on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

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

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Jan 16, 2025

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      Student Team: Isaac Smithee (Team Lead), Wade Olson, Nicolas Runge, Ryan Twedt, Anthony Bachmeier, Matthew Berg, Sterling Berg
      Faculty Mentors: Marco Ciarcia, Todd Letcher
      Selected: 2019
      A recorded USRC Tech Talk #1 and USRC Tech Talk #2 on ATLAS

      The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
      Software-Defined GPS Augmentation Network for UAS Navigation (University Of Oklahoma, Norman)
      A novel solution of enhanced GPS navigation for unmanned aerial vehicles
      Student Team: Robert Rucker (Team Lead), Alex Zhang, Jakob Fusselman, Matthew GilliamMentors: Dr. Yan (Rockee) Zhang (Faculty Mentor), Dr Hernan Suarez (Team Technical Mentor)
      Faculty Mentors: Marco Ciarcia, Todd Letcher
      Selected: 2019
      Crowdfunding Website

      A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic

      The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
      UAV Traffic Information Exchange Network (Purdue University)
      A blockchain-inspired secure, scalable, distributed, and efficient communication framework to support large scale UAV operations
      Student Team: Hsun Chao (Team Lead) and Apoorv Maheshwari
      Faculty Mentors: Daniel DeLaurentis (Faculty Mentor), Shashank Tamaskar
      Selected: 2018
      Web Article: “Student-developed communication network for UAVs interests NASA“
      The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
      University Student Research Challenge
      University Leadership Initiative
      University Innovation Project
      Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program
      Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASAes @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More
      4 min read NASA University Research Program Makes First Award to a Community College Project
      Article 1 month ago 3 min read NASA Selects New Round of Student-Led Aviation Research Awards
      Article 1 month ago 4 min read NASA Selects University Teams to Explore Innovative Aeronautical Research
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      Last Updated Apr 03, 2025 EditorLillian GipsonContactJim Bankejim.banke@nasa.gov Related Terms
      University Student Research Challenge View the full article
    • Space Force
      US, Australia demonstrate current, future space priorities at Avalon International Airshow
      By Space Force
      Avalon is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest airshow and aerospace and defense exposition. During the 2025 event, multiple industry exhibits, keynote speakers and engagements focused on current priorities and future development of space concerns.
      View the full article
    • NASA
      NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Assigned to First Space Station Mission
      By NASA
      NASA astronaut Christopher Williams poses for a portrait at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.Credit: NASA NASA astronaut Chris Williams will embark on his first mission to the International Space Station, serving as a flight engineer and Expedition 74 crew member.
      Williams will launch aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft in November, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. After launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the trio will spend approximately eight months aboard the orbiting laboratory.
      During his expedition, Williams will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations that help prepare humans for future space missions and benefit humanity.
      Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, Williams graduated with the 23rd astronaut class in 2024. He began training for his first space station flight assignment immediately after completing initial astronaut candidate training.
      Williams was born in New York City, and considers Potomac, Maryland, his hometown. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Stanford University in California and a doctorate in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, where his research focused on astrophysics. Williams completed Medical Physics Residency training at Harvard Medical School in Boston. He was working as a clinical physicist and researcher at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston when he was selected as an astronaut.
      For more than two decades, people have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. The station is a critical testbed for NASA to understand and overcome the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and to expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. As commercial companies focus on providing human space transportation services and destinations as part of a robust low Earth orbit economy, NASA is able to more fully focus its resources on deep space missions to the Moon and Mars.
      Learn more about International Space Station research and operations at:
      https://www.nasa.gov/station
      -end-
      Josh Finch / Claire O’Shea
      Headquarters, Washington
      202-358-1100
      joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov
      Chelsey Ballarte
      Johnson Space Center, Houston
      281-483-5111
      chelsey.n.ballarte@nasa.gov
      Share
      Details
      Last Updated Apr 03, 2025 LocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms
      Humans in Space International Space Station (ISS) ISS Research Johnson Space Center View the full article

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