SRINAGAR: A Chennai-based Indian team has emerged as a global winner at NASA’s 2025 International Space Apps Challenge for proposing a satellite internet concept aimed at expanding broadband access to remote regions.
The team, Photonics Odyssey, won the Most Inspirational Award for its proposal of a sovereign, phased-array satellite internet infrastructure designed to reduce reliance on ground-based systems and improve connectivity. The concept targets bridging the digital divide for more than 700 million people in India who currently lack broadband access.
According to NASA Space Apps, the winning team comprises Manish D., M. K., Prasanth G., Rajalingam N., Rashi M., and Sakthi R.
NASA said the 2025 edition of its flagship global hackathon drew over 1,14,000 participants through 551 local events held across 167 countries and territories, making it one of the largest collaborative innovation platforms worldwide.
Indian American students and participants of Indian origin featured prominently among the winners this year, underscoring the strong role of the Indian diaspora in global science and technology innovation.
Launched in 2012, the International Space Apps Challenge is NASA’s annual global hackathon that encourages citizens to solve real-world problems using the agency’s open data and resources.
