Students win $5K for satellite diagnostic system at Brampton space tech challenge

Developing a system to predict satellite failures has won a team of four budding Brampton engineers a $5,000 prize.

The 2025 BramHacks hackathon ran in Brampton earlier this month, where some 700 students from dozens of universities and high schools competed in an innovation challenge to design creative solutions to problems in the space technology sector.

Former Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk opened the event, which was the second annual hackathon. The competition was held over three days at the Canon Canada Headquarters in Brampton, with a focus on space tech.

The top five teams advanced to the finale on Nov. 9 and presented their projects before a panel of judges that included CEO of InspireTech Canada Kyle Boykoa, and a systems engineer at Canadensys Aerospace Corporation.

A quartet of young Brampton innovators called Team JADE won the top prize.

Teenagers Arjan Waraich, Daniel Ganjali, Justin Rui and Emerson Ni won $5,000 for their project called Heimdall – an AI-powered satellite diagnostic system that can predict hardware failures and improve the reliability of space missions.

The project also included a custom 3D-printed robotic arm that models in-orbit repair tasks.

“The aim is to support more reliable satellite infrastructure, which communities rely on for weather forecasting, communications, and emergency services,” Riu said of the Brampton group’s winning project in an email to Insauga.com.

“BramHacks showed us how space innovation can support life on Earth and inspired us to create technology that sustains the satellites our communities rely on every day,” he said in a release.

Second place was won by Team Coolie for their AI-enhanced learning platform called Astro-Academy, while Team SpaceEx took third place for a space debris monitoring system to enhance orbital safety and reduce collision risks.

Brampton is home to MDA Space’s Global Headquarters and Space Robotics Centre of Excellence, which is developing the Canadarm, and the city says MDA and the Sheridan Centre for Intelligent Robotics are helping Brampton “establish itself as a launchpad for Canada’s next generation of space technology and talent.”

“Brampton is quickly becoming one of Canada’s most exciting centres for space innovation and advanced technology,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said in a release. “Through BramHacks, we’re showcasing the creativity and talent that continue to position our city as a launchpad for the future. We’re proud to support young innovators who are driving solutions for a stronger and more sustainable world.”

For more information on the BramHacks program, click here.

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