Calling all talented programmers from the Asia Pacific region and the United States! JAXA is seeking your expertise to develop innovative programs that can control Astrobee, a free-flying robot on the International Space Station (ISS), and effectively seal leaks using its laser pointer.

Due to the limited number of programs that can be uploaded to Astrobee, JAXA is inviting top contenders to participate in a competition to identify the most promising solutions. Int-Ball, a camera drone, will assist Astrobee in this critical mission.

Join us in this exciting endeavor and showcase your programming prowess to make a significant contribution to ISS operations. Let’s work together to harness the power of Astrobee and safeguard the ISS from potential hazards.

STEMX365 launched 1st KRPC in Bangladesh in 2020 just before the pandemic. Bangladesh students joined in this program as an observer country. 

STEMX365 trained Bangladesh students in writing code for Astrobee robot.

In 2021, a team of brilliant Asian student programmers successfully resolved a recurring air leak on the International Space Station (ISS), their ingenuity seemingly averting a major crisis. However, the ISS’s respite was short-lived. In 2022, a surge in space debris resulted in a collision with the station, reigniting the previously repaired leak and triggering a new one.

Once again, the ISS is facing a critical situation, and the call goes out to student programmers to step up and save the orbiting laboratory. Your skills and dedication are urgently needed to devise innovative solutions to permanently seal these leaks and safeguard the ISS for future space missions.

The eyes of the world are upon you, student programmers. Embark on this crucial mission and demonstrate the power of your programming prowess to protect the ISS and ensure the continued advancement of human space exploration.

Mission

• Move Astrobee to Point 1 and illuminate the center of Target 1 with Astrobee’s laser.

• Move Astrobee to the vicinity of Point 2 and read the AR tags surrounding Target 2.

• Analyze the position and orientation of the target based on the information obtained from the AR tags.

• Adjust Astrobee’s position and orientation to precisely point its laser at the center of the target.

• Illuminate the center of the target using Astrobee’s laser.

• Report the completion of the mission to a crew member.

Scoring

• Your score will be determined based on the accuracy of laser pointing and the elapsed time.