Kalaburagi, Students of S.R.N. Mehta CBSE School in Kalaburagi have brought international recognition to India by securing first place in the NASA–National Space Society (NSS) Space Settlement Contest 2025. Their winning entry, titled Ira, earned the top spot in the Grade 8 Large Group category, competing against entries from schools across the globe.
The student team behind Ira consisted of eleven bright minds: Aarna Uttarkar, Deepika Hatte, Khushi Ainapur, Nihar Mehta, Pranati Mankar, Poorvaja Kulkarni, Saanika Jajee, Shambhavi Pujari, Sharan P, Shreya Hatte, and Zaisha Qazi. Their project stood out for its visionary concept, scientific depth, and attention to real-world space habitation challenges.
The NASA-NSS contest is one of the most prestigious international competitions in the field of space education, encouraging school students to explore futuristic concepts of human settlement beyond Earth. Students are invited to design detailed plans for space habitats, incorporating engineering, science, environmental sustainability, and social structure.
Speaking on the achievement, the school’s management expressed immense pride in the students’ accomplishment. “This award is the result of months of hard work, teamwork, and dedication. It’s inspiring to see young students from Kalaburagi reaching global platforms with their ideas,” said a senior faculty member.
The students’ success has generated a wave of celebration in the local community, with parents, educators, and civic leaders applauding their historic win. The school is now looking forward to participating in the International Space Development Conference, where winners will present their ideas to leading space scientists and engineers.
The victory by S.R.N. Mehta School not only highlights the talent nurtured in smaller cities of India but also reaffirms the rising interest of Indian youth in space science and innovation.
