Kolkata Boys Reach NASA Finals with Space Habitat Design

Seven bright young students from La Martiniere for Boys, Kolkata have made the city proud by reaching the finals of the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) 2025, held at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Orlando, Florida.

The talented team Pratyaksh Singhania, Varun Bajoria, Raghav Agarwal, Harshit Agarwal (Class 12); Indraneel Mandal, Stavan Jain (Class 11); and Manan Bagrecha (Class 10) — were among 400 participants worldwide who took on the challenge of designing a futuristic, fully functional space settlement capable of sustaining human life in orbit around Venus.

The ISSDC is known for its high-intensity, industry-simulation format where students step into the shoes of aerospace engineers, tackle real-world challenges, and develop visionary solutions. The Kolkata boys’ final design presentation received high praise from an international jury of aerospace experts, who lauded their technical knowledge, creativity, and presentation skills.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the seven students were the only representatives from India. They earned this honour by winning the national finals in India and later the Asia regional finals in Dubai, proving their mettle against some of the brightest young minds across the globe.

Speaking on their achievement, La Martiniere Schools secretary Supriyo Dhar said:

“The performance of our students has brought great honour to the school. This milestone serves as an inspiration for future students to dream big, think beyond limits, and aim for the stars.”

This incredible journey of the La Martiniere boys not only celebrates their brilliance but also shines a spotlight on Kolkata’s growing presence on the global innovation stage.

✨ From the classrooms of Kolkata to the finals at NASA, these young minds are proof that the sky is no longer the limit.