After a successful debut in 2020, SEDS Sri Lanka returned to organize the NASA Space Apps Colombo 2021 edition — held on October 2–3, 2021 — timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the global NASA Space Apps Challenge.

Event Overview

The 2021 global theme, "Power of Ten," celebrated a decade of the hackathon's growth worldwide. Continuing the precedent set in 2020, health and safety concerns tied to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic meant Space Apps Colombo 2021 was again run as a fully virtual event.

That year's global edition also expanded its award structure, introducing four new award categories, bringing the total to ten Global Awards available to teams worldwide — a fitting number for the tenth-anniversary theme.

Local Leadership

The 2021 Colombo edition was led by Anupa Kulathunga, representing SEDS Sabaragamuwa, who served as the local Space Apps Lead responsible for connecting Sri Lankan registrants to each other and to NASA's global network of mentors and judges.

Why the 2021 Edition Mattered

Running Space Apps Colombo for a second consecutive year confirmed SEDS Sri Lanka's role as a recurring, reliable local host rather than a one-off organizer — an important credibility marker for NASA's official Space Apps directory of global locations. It also broadened local leadership beyond a single university or chapter, with SEDS Sabaragamuwa taking point on local coordination.

Quick Facts: NASA Space Apps Colombo 2021