{"slug":"skyshield-wmpgang","name":"SkyShield (WMPGang)","hackathon":"nasa-space-apps-2024","tagline":"A physically based 3D orrery that puts near-Earth objects and meteoroid streams in one view to show the overlooked hazard to satellites.","placement":{"status":"track-winner","awards":["Best Use of Science"],"track":"orrery-web-app-neos"},"team":{"size":4,"members":[],"countries":["CA"]},"problem":"Asteroid-risk tools focus on large near-Earth objects, while the steady flux of small meteoroids from streams and the sporadic complex is a constant, overlooked threat to satellites.","solution":"A JavaScript/Three.js web orrery that computes orbits from orbital elements at their epoch: planets, dwarf planets, 1,669 NEOs from the ESA risk list, 107 meteoroid streams and the sporadic meteoroid complex. Streams light up only when active near Earth; NEOs filter by orbit, size and Palermo impact rating; time runs live, faster or backwards.","demo_moment":null,"build_style":"software-only","tech":{"stack":["javascript","three-js","python-preprocessing","github"],"ai_patterns":[]},"domains":["space-science","space-operations"],"analysis":{"why_it_stood_out":[{"claim":"Won the award for the best and most valid use of science.","basis":"organizer-stated","source":1},{"claim":"Identifies satellite risk zones using real-time data on near-Earth objects and meteor streams.","basis":"organizer-stated","source":0},{"claim":"The team comes from a university meteor physics group and adds the meteoroid threat that NEO tools overlook.","basis":"team-stated","source":2},{"claim":"Positions are computed from physical orbital elements at each object's epoch, so objects appear where they truly are at the chosen time.","basis":"team-stated","source":2},{"claim":"Domain experts answering a visualization challenge with a physically correct model is what the science award rewards: the orrery is accurate, not just pretty.","basis":"curator-inference"}],"mechanisms":["visible-engineering-depth","inverted-approach","expert-data-for-everyone","complete-submission-package"],"judging_lens":["scientific-validity","technical-depth","design-ux"],"lessons":["Bring real domain expertise to a visualization challenge and let accuracy be the differentiator.","Add the hazard everyone ignores (meteoroids next to asteroids) to make a standard brief your own.","AI was used only for code snippets and debugging, and the disclosure says so."],"confidence":"high"},"links":{"project_page":"https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/nasa-space-apps-2024/find-a-team/wmpgang/?tab=project","demo":"https://simonvse.com/projects/neo-orrery/app/","video":"https://youtu.be/RBl_3ZsmVFo"},"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/stem-engagement-at-nasa/nasa-international-space-apps-challenge-announces-2024-global-winners/","kind":"official-results","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14"},{"url":"https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/nasa-space-apps-2024/awards/","kind":"official-event-page","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14","note":"Award definition."},{"url":"https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/nasa-space-apps-2024/find-a-team/wmpgang/?tab=project","kind":"project-page","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14","note":"Team-written summary, technical details, AI-use disclosure, data list."}]}