The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is igniting innovation with the Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon, a unique opportunity for students to make their mark in the field of geo-spatial applications. This exciting event, held as part of National Space Day 2024, invites teams of three to four Indian students from undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs to showcase their skills and creativity.
The hackathon features a rigorous two-level screening process. Initially, 100 teams will be selected based on the strength of their ideas and relevance to the problem statements. From this group, an expert committee will carefully choose 30 teams to advance to the grand finale.
The grand finale, a 30-hour marathon event, will be held at the NRSC Outreach Facility in Jeedimetla, Hyderabad, starting at 10:00 hrs IST on August 13, 2024. This intense competition will push participants to their limits, encouraging them to collaborate and innovate under pressure.
Participation in the Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon is managed through a dedicated web portal. Interested teams can submit their proposals through the portal until July 26, 2024. The list of teams advancing to the grand finale will be announced on August 2, 2024.
This exciting initiative aligns with ISRO’s ongoing efforts to foster innovation and inspire the next generation of space scientists and engineers. The hackathon serves as a platform for students to contribute to the advancement of geo-spatial technology, which has wide-ranging applications across sectors like agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning.
The Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon is not the only exciting development in India’s space program. The Aditya-L1 mission, India’s first solar observatory, achieved a significant milestone on July 2nd, 2024, successfully completing its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point. Launched on September 2nd, 2023, the Aditya-L1 mission is designed to study the Sun and its influence on Earth’s environment. Its successful insertion into its targeted halo orbit on January 6th, 2024, marked a major accomplishment for the Indian space program.
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft, positioned at the Lagrangian point L1, takes 178 days to complete a revolution around this point. During its journey, the spacecraft will be subject to various perturbing forces that could cause it to deviate from its intended orbit. However, ISRO’s engineers are prepared to address these challenges and ensure the mission’s continued success.
India’s space program continues to make remarkable strides, driven by the ingenuity and dedication of its scientists and engineers. The Bhartiya Antariksh Hackathon and the Aditya-L1 mission are testament to India’s growing prowess in space exploration and its commitment to scientific advancement.
