Vidya Valley school students secure first place in international space contest

Pune: Students of Vidya Valley School have secured first place in the Ninth Grade Small Group Category at the 2025 Live Healthy in Space International Contest organised by the National Space Society. The competition received 2,627 project submissions from 14,636 students representing 12 countries.Their project, titled Kosmosagri – A Self-Sustaining Agricultural Settlement for Healthy Living in Space, proposes a model for sustainable food production beyond Earth. The concept places the settlement at the Sun–Mars L1 Lagrange Point to ensure continuous access to solar energy for agriculture and life-support systems.
The winning team comprises Krishiv Jethwani, Aadya Veshvikar, Aarya Kadam, Aarini Dubey and Rudra Nagarkar. The team was mentored by Vandana Suryawanshi."The design includes interconnected agricultural torii that support various farming techniques such as aeroponics, aquaponics, hydroponics, fogponics and vertical farming. Environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, light and nutrients are monitored through Arduino-based automated systems. Sensors collect data and regulate misting, cooling and lighting to maintain optimal plant-growth conditions," said Suryawanshi."The project also integrates the Four Sisters polyculture farming method, where complementary crops grow together to maintain ecological balance. The model combines this system with aquaponics, in which fish provide nutrients for plants while the plants help purify the water," Suryawanshi added.Energy for the settlement is generated through solar panels, while agricultural waste is converted into biofuels. Ipsita Rodricks, director of the school, said, "Water is recycled through multi-stage purification systems. Automated harvesting and distribution systems are proposed to support long-term human habitation in space."School principal Nalini Sengupta congratulated the students on their achievement.