Nova Space and the Space Workforce Institute proudly celebrate the winners of the 2025 ACHIEVED Mission Design Competition, hosted by the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). As the official prize sponsor, Nova Space awards the winning team full access to its Space Professional Course and the corresponding Space Professional Fundamentals certification offered by the Space Workforce Institute (SWI).
The ACHIEVED Mission Design Competition is a six-month international challenge bringing together students and young professionals to address pressing space sector challenges. Under this year’s theme, Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth, teams developed solutions focused on sustainable space operations, strengthening life on Earth through space systems, and building resilient foundations for future exploration. Finalists presented at the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia.
The 2025 winning team, CropCosmos, is composed of five master’s students from the Earth-Oriented Space Science and Technology program at the Technical University of Munich, Germany: Adesh Phalphale, Ankur Giri, Heba Gaballa, Miaoxi Chen, and Janina Fraas.
Their project developed an AI-driven predictive system integrating hyperspectral satellite imagery and meteorological intelligence to forecast forest pest infestations under drought conditions. By combining Earth observation, climate modeling, and machine learning, the team demonstrated how space-based technologies can directly strengthen environmental resilience on Earth.
Team Member Highlights
- Adesh Phalphale, Space Systems Engineer at Talos – Master’s student at the Technical University of Munich, Majoring in Space Systems
- Janina Fraas – Master’s student at the Technical University of Munich, Majoring in Remote Sensing.
- Ankur Giri, Mission Controller at OroraTech – Master’s student at the Technical University of Munich, Majoring in Navigation.
- Miaoxi Chen – Master’s student at the Technical University of Munich, Majoring in Remote Sensing.
- Heba Gaballa, Space Systems Engineer at the Egyptian Space Agency – Master’s student at the Technical University of Munich, Majoring in Navigation.
Through Nova Space’s sponsorship, each team member receives access to the full Space Professional program offering structured, industry-aligned training covering core space sector disciplines including electromagnetic radiation, orbital mechanics, rocket propulsion and launch dynamics, space environment, space mission applications, and spacecraft systems engineering. The accompanying Space Workforce Institute (SWI) certification formally validates mastery of these same foundational principles through examination, providing recognized credentialed confirmation of technical competency. Together, this integrated training and certification pathway equips the recipients with both advanced knowledge and verified certification to support their continued advancement in the global space workforce.
“We are incredibly proud to support the ACHIEVED Competition and to recognize the outstanding work of CropCosmos and its team members,” said Christopher Allen, CEO of Nova Space. “We hope our Space Professional Course will further strengthen their expertise, expand their technical foundation, and support their continued growth as leaders in the global space sector.”
Through its partnership with SGAC’s Education & Professional Development Platform, Nova Space remains committed to expanding access to high-quality, industry-aligned training worldwide. All eligible SGAC members aged 18 to 35 receive discounted pricing on Nova Space professional courses and Space Workforce Institute exam bundles, with select foundational courses offered at no cost as part of the sponsorship.
Individuals interested in accessing these resources or becoming an SGAC member are encouraged to visit https://spacegeneration.org.
For more information about Nova Space’s Space Professional Course and the Space Workforce Institute’s certification programs, visit https://novaspaceinc.com and https://spaceworkforceinstitute.org.