On May 17, 2025, engineers, students, and developers landed at Turion Space HQ for SPACE.HACK, a hands-on, fast-paced hackathon co-hosted by Turion Space, Couchbase, and AWS. The goal? Build space-inspired apps using Couchbase Capella that make satellite tracking more accessible and launch new possibilities for space technology—right here on Earth.
With 40–50 attendees from Turion, AWS, Couchbase, and the local university scene (UCI/UCR), the day was packed with innovation, learning, and some seriously inspiring tech.
Why SPACE.HACK?
At its core, SPACE.HACK is about democratizing access to space data. Turion Space—creators of the DROID satellite series—wants to make satellite tracking and space mission data easier to understand, visualize, and use. With Couchbase Capella as the engine powering mobile and web apps, this hackathon was more than just a fun Saturday. It was a launchpad for:
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- Public-facing tools that promote citizen science
- Real-world projects that could scale into production apps
- A chance to grow the developer ecosystem around space technologies
“Sharing what space development is like with new students was incredibly rewarding—and I saw many people leave inspired,” explained Sammy Roberts, Principal Software Engineer at Turion Space.
Five Problem Statements, Infinite Potential
Teams had the option to tackle one of five real-world challenges:
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- Specific Satellite Notifications: Space enthusiasts and researchers lack easy ways to know when specific satellites pass overhead for observation / data collection.
- Solar System Mission Explorer: Understanding the current status and position of active space missions across our solar system remains difficult for the general public and educators.
- Telemetry Anomaly Detection: Mission control systems generate vast amounts of telemetry data that must be continuously monitored for anomalies, creating high cognitive load for operators and risking missed critical events.
- Mission Control Interface: Creating custom interfaces for mission control requires specialized programming knowledge, limiting the ability to quickly adapt to mission needs or optimize operator workflow.
- 3D Thermal Gradient Visualization System: Spacecraft thermal engineers lack intuitive tools to visualize and analyze thermal conditions across satellite components in three dimensions, making it difficult to identify hotspots, thermal imbalances, or cooling system inefficiencies that could compromise mission success.
Each challenge was rooted in active pain points facing mission operators, engineers, and space educators—meaning that even early-stage hacks had the potential to make a real impact.
The students learned fast and dove into new ideas throughout the hackathon. It was amazing to watch so many of them grow right in front of my eyes, said Roberts.
Code, Community & Cosmic Possibilities
From first-time hackers to seasoned pros, attendees brought their A-game. The event wasn’t just about shipping code—it was about learning, networking, and building lasting connections across tech and space. “It was an impressive turnout and I valued the chance to network with AWS, Couchbase, and the students. We can’t wait to do it again,” concluded Roberts.
Looking Ahead
SPACE.HACK was a one-day event—but its impact will continue to be felt. Whether it’s a prototype that evolves into a product, a student who lands their first space tech job, or new partnerships across companies, this event proved that great ideas happen when technologists and dreamers come together. Thanks to everyone who helped make SPACE.HACK an out-of-this-world success!
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- Start building your own applications using Couchbase Capella’s free DBaaS
