NASA Space Apps Challenge 2023, the annual hackathon competition for aspiring scientists and innovators, had its grand closing ceremony for Bangladesh held today at Independent University Bangladesh (IUB). The 9th iteration of this competition was organised by Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) in collaboration with BASIS Students Forum. 

As per an official press release, this year's hackathon started on October 6 and lasted 36 hours continuously. With the Space Apps Challenge program, NASA aims to bring together talented young people from 185 different countries to find innovative solutions and solve various global problems. As a part of this project, BASIS has organised the program locally in 9 cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chattagram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Cumilla). 

In 2018, 'Team Olik' from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) achieved high ranks and won 'Best Use of Data' with a Lunar VR app in the international competition. In 2021, 'Team Mohakash', a combined team from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and Technology (BAUET), became the world champion in the 'Best Mission Concept' category. In 2022, against 5,300 teams from 160 nations, 'Team Diamonds' clinched the world championship in the 'Most Inspirational' category. 

This year, more than 2,000 contestants from 9 cities across the country have participated in the NASA Space Apps Challenge. Out of the 210 teams, the top 50 teams directly participated at IUB premises and the remaining 160 teams participated virtually in a two-day hackathon. The organisers are hopeful that Bangladesh will become world champions for the fourth time this year in the international round of the global competition.

The team names of the winners of NASA Space Apps Challenge Bangladesh 2023 are given below:

Dhaka: Champion - Team Rubust, Runner-up - Team Astrotitans, 2nd runner-up - Team Eclipso

Chattagram: Champion - Team Alpha, Runner-up - Team Tukhor, 2nd runner-up - Team Plexus

Rajshahi: Champion - Team Voyagers, Runner-up - Team Error 404, 2nd runner-up - Team Mars Marvel

Cumilla: Champion - Team Hybrid, Runner-up - Team Edgefly, 2nd runner-up - Moonrakers

Sylhet: Champion - Team Eclipsia, Runner-up - Team Proshphut, 2nd runner-up - Team Astroglide

Khulna: Champion - Team Storm Troopers, Runner-up - Team Mohakorsho, 2nd runner-up - Team Anirbaan

Barisal: Champion - The Titans, Runner-up - Team Yottabyte, 2nd runner-up - Space Alchemists

Rangpur: Champion - Team Recursion, Runner-up - The Space Squad, 2nd runner-up - Team Galactic Gladiators

Mymensingh: Champion - Team Inception_Last_Hope, Runner-up - Team Solarsentinel, 2nd runner-up - Team Lunar Allies