Two students of SDRO (www.sdro.live) — Samvruth Chamarthi (Hyderabad) and Nisarg Gandhi (Ahmedabad) have earned global acclaim as their project was selected by NASA during the 2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge, the world’s largest space and science hackathon.
Competing among thousands of teams worldwide, the student team developed an innovative AI-driven and data-analytical solution addressing a real-world challenge centred on commercializing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) while ensuring long-term sustainability. Their project ranked within the top 8% globally, advancing to the next stage of NASA’s international evaluation process.
The 2-day hackathon brought together participants across the world to solve problems using NASA’s open data.
“This achievement reflects the potential of young Indian innovators when provided the right guidance and scientific ecosystem,” said Sarvesh Bhardwaj, Space Coach, SDRO.
“SDRO is proud to create such opportunities for students to engage with global space missions and high-impact challenges.”
Participation in NASA’s open innovation platform allowed the students to enhance their technical skills in astrophysical data interpretation, AI-based analysis, systems thinking, and team-based research environments — preparing them for future careers in space technology and exploration.
Scientific Development and Research Organisation (SDRO) continues its mission to build India’s next-generation space leaders by offering hands-on, research-oriented programs in astronomy, space science, and innovation.
About SDRO Space Academy
SDRO is a leading national platform dedicated to nurturing young space enthusiasts through hands-on astronomy education, space science exploration, and global experiential learning. Recognized as an ISRO’s Space Tutor, SDRO offers structured programs for students aged 7–18 years, empowering them with scientific curiosity, research-driven skills, and real-world exposure.
One of SDRO’s flagship initiatives is the Travel with Coach program — an internationally acclaimed educational travel experience where students explore global science destinations, visit space centres, engage in STEM activities, and develop leadership, independence, and confidence under expert mentorship. This program has become a highly reviewed and parent-trusted experience for holistic learning.
With consistently high SDRO reviews, parent trust, and student success stories, the academy stands out as one of India’s most reliable and impactful institutions for space learning. Through experiential workshops, innovation challenges, NASA/ISRO-aligned projects, and global exposure programs, SDRO continues to build the next generation of young astronomers, space innovators, and scientific achievers.
