International Hackathon on Space Agriculture & Bioregenerative Systems

International Hackathon on Space Agriculture & Bioregenerative Systems

Dates: August 22–24, 2026
Mode: Online
Organized by: Wings of Aero
Convenor: Ms. Suguna B – Co-Founder & CBO, Wings of Aero

1] About the Hackathon

The International Hackathon on Space Agriculture & Bioregenerative Systems focuses on the next frontier of long-term human survival in space: growing food, recycling resources, and sustaining life beyond Earth. With missions to the Moon, Mars, and deep-space habitats becoming a reality, the need for reliable bioregenerative life-support systems, closed-loop ecological cycles, and resilient agricultural technologies is greater than ever.

This 3-day global hackathon invites students, researchers, and innovators to design real-world solutions in controlled agricultural systems, nutrient cycles, microbiome engineering, automated farming, water recycling, and habitat sustainability for extraterrestrial environments. Participants will explore how biology, engineering, and space technology merge to support future space colonies.

2] Hackathon Problem Statements / Tracks

Track 1: Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for Space Habitats

Problem: Food production in space requires tightly regulated environments with limited resources.
Expected Solution: Designs for LED-based growth chambers, climate control systems, growth racks, automated monitoring, and optimized crop selection.

Track 2: Closed-Loop Water Recycling Systems for Agriculture

Problem: Water is the most critical and scarce resource for space habitats.
Expected Solution: Filtration systems, condensation recovery units, greywater processing, nutrient-rich hydroponic solutions, and efficient recycling pipelines.

Track 3: Plant Growth in Reduced Gravity (Moon/Mars) Conditions

Problem: Lunar and Martian gravity alters root behavior, nutrient absorption, and plant morphology.
Expected Solution: Growth models, adaptive root support, engineered substrates, centrifuge-based growth modules, and simulation-based predictions.

Track 4: Soil & Regolith-Based Farming Solutions

Problem: Regolith on the Moon and Mars contains toxic compounds and lacks organic matter.
Expected Solution: Regolith detoxification methods, soil amendments, microbial inoculation, nutrient delivery systems, and hybrid regolith–soil agriculture designs.

Track 5: Bioregenerative Life-Support Systems (BLSS)

Problem: Long-duration missions require food, oxygen, water, and waste management in a closed-loop cycle.
Expected Solution: BLSS models integrating plant growth, algae, microbial systems, waste-to-nutrient conversion, and ecosystem balancing strategies.

Track 6: Microbial Bioreactors for Nutrient Recycling

Problem: Human waste and plant residue must be converted into usable nutrient sources in space.
Expected Solution: Microbial bioreactor designs, decomposition modelling, nutrient extraction processes, and safe sterilization protocols.

Track 7: Autonomous Farming & Robotics for Space Colonies

Problem: Human labour will be limited in space settlements, requiring automated agricultural support.
Expected Solution: Robotic arms, seed planters, automated harvesting systems, AI-based crop monitoring, and fault-tolerant farming networks.

Track 8: Radiation-Shielded Greenhouses for Lunar/Martian Surfaces

Problem: High radiation levels can damage crops and disrupt growth cycles.
Expected Solution: Shielding materials, subsurface greenhouse designs, regolith-covered structures, UV-filtering films, and habitat integration plans.

Track 9: Food Processing & Nutrition Optimization for Space Crews

Problem: Astronauts require nutrient-dense, shelf-stable, and psychologically appealing food options.
Expected Solution: Novel food processing methods, microbial protein synthesis, high-density nutrient packing, flavour-stabilizing solutions, and space-friendly packaging concepts.

Track 10 (Open Innovation Track): Individual Student Innovation

Participants may propose any unique idea aligned with space farming, bioregenerative systems, life-support technologies, or extraterrestrial biosustainability.
Expected Solution: Blue-sky concepts, futuristic biosystem designs, radical biotechnologies, or novel habitat agriculture innovations.

3] Event Schedule (Three Days)

Day 1 – August 22, 2026

• 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Opening Ceremony & Theme Overview

• 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Expert Sessions on Space Agriculture & BLSS

• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Team Formation & Problem Selection

• 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Work Session 1 – Ideation & Initial Design

Day 2 – August 23, 2026

• 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Work Session 2 (Mentor Guidance & Review)

• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Break

• 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Work Session 3 – Model, Blueprint, or Prototype Development

Day 3 – August 24, 2026

• 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Final Submission, Documentation & Pitch Preparation

• 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Presentations & Jury Evaluation

• 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Awards & Closing Ceremony

4] Eligibility & Participation Rules

Team Size:

• 2–4 members

Eligibility:

• Open to students, researchers, innovators, and professionals from biology, agriculture, space sciences, biotechnology, engineering, environmental sciences, or interdisciplinary fields.

Participation Rules & Code of Conduct:

• Entries must be original and created during the hackathon.

• Respectful, ethical behavior is mandatory.

• Use of copyrighted material or confidential industry documents is not allowed.

• Organizers’ decisions are final.

• Teams may be from different institutions or countries.

5] Evaluation Criteria

• Innovation & Creativity

• Practical Application / Social Impact

• Technical Implementation

• Scalability & Feasibility

• Presentation Quality

6] Prizes & Recognition

🏆 Awards & Opportunities

• Top 10 Ideas/Winners:
  Receive USD 1000 Voucher under Idea to Startup Scheme by SUKISH GROUP.

• Top 3 Teams:
  Ideas shared with major companies/research bodies for Seed Funding Support, including:

  1. NASA – Space Biology Program

  2. ESA – MELiSSA Program

  3. Blue Origin

  4. SpaceX – Life Support R&D

  5. International Space Research Organization (ISRO) – Life Sciences Lab

• All Participants Receive:

  • Certificate of Participation

  • Opportunity to showcase at relevant WOA International Conferences

  • Selected ideas published as abstracts in WOA International Journal

  • Eligible for Innovation Awards during WOA International Awards 2026 Series

7] Registration Section

Indian Team (Up to 4 Members):

• Fee: Rs. 499

• Registration Link: https://rzp.io/rzp/OIdx3sUB

International Team (Up to 4 Members):

• Fee: USD 50

• Registration Link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/GQX8AYUCPJ7GL

Registration Deadline:

August 15, 2026 (One week before the hackathon)

8] Contact Information

• Email: contact@wingsofaero.in

• Website: www.wingsofaero.in/events