JEDDAH: The NASA International Space Apps Challenge hackathon concluded in Jeddah on Tuesday night, after setting out to raise awareness about Earth and space sciences, NASA’s data, and exploration.
Organized by Geeks Valley with support from the Saudi Space Agency and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, the event brought together top minds in science and technology to tackle real-world space challenges.
Twelve teams, comprising 50 participants, collaborated over two days under the guidance of experts from the University of Business and Technology.
A panel of judges evaluated projects based on innovation, feasibility, impact and execution.
The winners developed “Vitanova,” a story-based game using NASA data to raise awareness about climate change. The game challenges players to use renewable energy and understand the environmental impact of the choices they make.
The second-placed team produced a solution to protect solar panels from dust storms, extending their lifespan in harsh environments.
The third-placed team created “ZeroG Arena,” a game for astronauts to combat boredom during space missions through competitive challenges in a microgravity environment.
The University of Business and Technology honored Ali Mohammed Al-Masari as the youngest participant, recognizing his contributions.
Winners received certificates and mentorship opportunities, paving the way for future collaboration.
