NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2025: International Space Station 25th Anniversary Apps

This website is a submission for NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2025: International Space Station 25th Anniversary Apps. The challenge in a nutshell was to create a visual tool to showcase two of the most prominent sensory experiences on the station (sight and weightlessness) through the lens of the cupola and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). The complete objective can be found below.

Our Solution

As our solution we present a game that is continuing development of our last year's submission Microgravity Situation, adding a new game mode: Buoyancy Situation!

Buoyancy Situation is a game where you get to experience for yourself the reason why all astronauts practice at Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory before they go into space, where they can take a picture peering through the windows of Cupola module.

In this game you are an astronaut with the objective to get from one end of the station to another by propelling yourself with a pingpong gun in 0 gravity. Learn how to go in a desired direction, learn how to maneuver and claim the coveted "Smooth navigator"-fastest time!

Objectives

Your challenge is to create a visual tool that not only helps students and the public understand two of the most prominent sensory experiences on the station (sight and weightlessness) through the lens of the cupola and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), but also informs them how these unique experiences benefit humans on Earth. Let the photos that astronauts have taken from the cupola and the neutral buoyancy training astronauts undergo inspire you!

You can create an application, game, website, or some other visual tool with an interactive user interface. Be creative! How will your tool give the user the opportunity to experience both the cupola and what it is like to train underwater at the NBL?

Think about how and where your tool could be used to educate users about Earth and space, expanding their understanding of the world and how space exploration benefits humanity. For example, you could incorporate a touch screen and/or keep the games short so more users in an event setting have the opportunity to interact with the tool.

Don't forget to take advantage of NASA imagery assets and data from scientific observations taken onboard the station.