Local Innovators Shine at Recent NASA Space Apps Challenge

Orillia, Ont. – The NASA International Space Apps Challenge brought together innovators, artists, coders, storytellers, and problem-solvers from across the region this past weekend to tackle real-world challenges—on Earth and beyond.

Presented by the City of Orillia and hosted by Lakehead University, the two-day event brought together 51 participants of all ages and skill levels, challenging them to form teams and use data from NASA and other Space Agency Partners to design solutions that would educate, inspire, or transform the lives of humans on this planet and in space.

“The Space Apps Challenge continues to show that innovation requires collaboration and diversity of skill and talent,” explained Rebecca Heffernan, Director of Economic Development & Research Support, and co-lead, NASA Space Apps Challenge - Orillia location. “The pride, excitement, and confidence shown by each one of our challengers — elementary students, high school students, college and university students, and community members — was truly inspiring.”

Two of the 12 participating teams will advance to the next round of competition. An additional five teams were recognized for their exceptional performance in an optional local Pitch Challenge. Held on Sunday, Oct. 5, the Pitch Challenge provided teams with an opportunity to receive feedback and compete for additional cash and prizes. Five groups walked away with bragging rights, including:

• Innovation Award: Project Impact by Team Escape Velocity – A comprehensive asteroid impact simulation and planetary defense education platform.
• Impact Award: Astroscope by Team Pizza Planet – A web-based platform for the collaborative exploration of high-resolution geological data, featuring both a 2D deep-zoom image viewer and an immersive 3D/VR moon terrain visualization.
• Storytelling Award: The Day the Sun Burped, an illustrated short story by Team Fluffiest Flamingos, to help kids learn about space weather.
• Honourable mention - youth category: Trash into Treasure by Team Ombs – To make the best use of materials in space and support wellness for astronauts on long missions, the team envisioned printing games on food and hydration packets so that the packaging could be used for other purposes instead of being thrown out.
• Honourable mention: TEMPO Analytics by Team Green Alien House Party – The team developed a mobile application that would allow users to monitor and make informed decisions about the air quality in their community.
    

Special highlights this year included career-focused networking on Day 1 and a video presentation by Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

“We're excited to have been able to host this event for the second year at Lakehead University,” said Jessica Lovett, Director of Career Services and Co-op and co-lead, NASA Space Apps Challenge - Orillia location. “The mix of returning and new participants, combined with generous support from local collaborators and new activities offered by the Canadian Space Agency, created a truly astronomical environment for innovation and exploration.”

Lakehead University would like to thank all the participants, mentors, and volunteers for making this year’s Space Apps Challenge a success, and acknowledge the sponsors, collaborators, and friends for their continued support:

• City of Orillia
• City of Barrie
• County of Simcoe
• Town of Collingwood
• Canadian Space Agency
• Manticore Books
• Raytheon ELCAN
• Smart Aviation Maintenance Solutions
• Lobo Media Marketing

We can’t wait for the return of Space Apps in 2026. If you’d like to accept the challenge and join the mission as an event volunteer, contact director.careers@lakeheadu.ca to be placed on a list for information as soon as dates and details become available.