Viasat: Space for Good India 2026

Viasat's signature global STEM competition is coming to India, inviting university students across the country to develop new applications of satellite technology that improve life on Earth. Whether your background is in engineering, computer science, environmental studies, business, or any other discipline — your ideas and perspective matter.

Viasat: Space for Good India features three phases over approximately 22 weeks, progressing from written concept submissions through digital media presentations to an in-person finals event in New Delhi in October 2026 — all expenses paid by Viasat.

Eligibility: Open to all university students in India, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level students, across all study areas and years of study. All participants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of entering the program.

Prizes: Top three finalists will be awarded prizes. 

• 1st Place: ₹5,00,000 
• 2nd Place: ₹3,75,000 
• 3rd Place: ₹2,75,000.

Space for Good empowers university students in India to combine their love of space with their formal learning to develop new applications of satellite technology that demonstrably improve life on Earth. We are specifically seeking  concepts that align with and leverage one or more of the following areas: 

1. Equitable and Sustainable Access to Space 

2. Direct to Device (D2D) and IoT 

3. Rural and Remote Digital Empowerment 

4. Space Industry Collaboration (Open Architecture) 

5. Multi-Orbit Constellations 

6. Cybersecurity in Space 

7. Sovereignty and Resilient Space Capabilities  

8. Disaster and Humanitarian 

9. Digital Infrastructure in Space 

10. Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)  

11. Lunar Communication 

Detailed descriptions of each focus area are provided in the Learning Resources tab. 

Three Phases 

Phase 1 - Concept Submission (6 weeks). Open to all eligible university students in India. Answer a series of written questions (totaling up to five pages) explaining your high-level “Space for Good” concept. Phase 1 will be scored by two AI systems (one Viasat, one HeroX) with close human oversight. The top 50–60 submissions will be reviewed, and 30 will advance to Phase 2. 

Phase 2 - Digital Submission (3 weeks). Create a 3-minute digital submission — video, podcast, animation, or other digital format. Scored by India-based Viasat employees and partners. Six advance to Finals. 

Phase 3 - The Finals (8 weeks). Finalists invited to New Delhi on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 (all expenses paid). Matched with employee mentors. Present in person to a panel of industry experts. 

Phase 1 Submission 

In Phase 1, you will answer a series of questions about your concept, including what problem it solves, its innovation, how it connects to Viasat's capabilities, its commercial viability, and how you would measure its impact. The total submission is approximately five pages. Full questions and character limits are available in the submission form. Use of AI is permitted, but ensure the core of your concept is your own idea; you may be asked to explain it in person.  All submissions must be in English.  

Scoring Rubric (100 points total) 

Download and view the full scoring rubric here. 

Eligibility 

Open to all university students, including graduate and doctoral-level students of any study area and year who are attending school in India.  All participants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of entering the program. Students must accept the Challenge-Specific Agreement before submitting. 

View legal agreement

Learning Resources 

The Viasat: Space for Good team has developed learning modules that feature resources—including interviews with experts—specifically designed to supplement and complement your existing knowledge. Accessing these tools is optional, but doing so will maximize your success in Phase 1. See the Learning Resources tab to begin.