The 2026 program places a specific spotlight on the Asia-Pacific region, beginning with a high-profile return to India, a recognized global tech hub. Following a successful debut, the Viasat: Space for Good Challenge returns to India to tap into the country’s world-class engineering talent, with applications set to open on June 8, 2026. The competition will culminate in a Grand Finals event on October 27, 2026, held in New Delhi, India. Gautam Sharma, Managing Director of Viasat India, noted that bringing the challenge back for a second year reflects a deep commitment to India's dynamic technology landscape. Sharma emphasized that the exceptional innovation witnessed from last year’s students serves as a foundation for this year’s participants to build on a mission of digital inclusion and develop meaningful, sustainable space-solutions for both India and the world.
The Viasat: Space for Good Challenge empowers the next generation of innovators to think critically about space sustainability, ranging from orbital debris mitigation to the sophisticated leveraging of satellite connectivity for social and environmental impact. To succeed, participants must navigate a rigorous three-stage process consisting of concept articulation, digital refinement, and a final pitch to a panel of industry experts who evaluate technical feasibility, design, and policy implications. While the immediate focus remains on upcoming events in India and Australia, the program is slated to include the United States and the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2027. Across all participating regions, winning students will receive monetary prizes and exclusive mentorship from Viasat’s global experts, furthering their education and potential contributions to the field of space technology.
Rebecca Grattan, Viasat’s Chief People and Culture Officer, highlighted that space technology touches nearly every aspect of daily life, from travel and communication to global safety. By expanding the challenge to Australia and returning to India, Viasat is reinforcing its commitment to developing talent and advancing solutions that deliver meaningful, space-based impact on a global scale, whether across land, in the air, or at sea. Interested parties and prospective participants are encouraged to visit viasat.com/VSFG to learn more about the program and get involved. This initiative stands as a cornerstone of Viasat’s efforts to foster local talent to solve regional and global challenges, ensuring the future of space remains a viable frontier for terrestrial benefit.
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