Curiosity X
NASA Space Apps
An interactive 3D asteroid impact simulator built for the "Meteor Madness" challenge at the NASA Space Apps Cairo Hackathon.
Venue
Zewail University, Cairo
Event
October 2025 Hackathon
Team
Curiosity X
The Problem
A fictional newly discovered asteroid — "Impactor-2025" — has been identified as a potential threat to Earth.
The critical data needed to understand the threat is scattered across separate databases (NASA for asteroids, USGS for geology), is too complex for the general public, and lacks visual impact simulations or protection strategy evaluation tools.
The Solution
The team built an interactive 3D web tool combining NASA asteroid data (size, speed, orbit) with USGS geological data (terrain, earthquake zones). The resulting platform serves as a powerful visualization tool targeting scientists, decision-makers, and the general public.
Simulator Features
Physics Simulation
Real-time physics-based asteroid trajectory calculations estimating collision energy, crater sizes, and secondary environmental effects like tsunamis and atmospheric changes.
3D Visualization & Maps
Interactive 3D visualization of the asteroid's trajectory using Three.js, paired with D3.js maps allowing users to choose specific geographical impact locations.
Protection Strategies
Simulates various asteroid deflection methods (e.g., rocket propulsion, gravity tractors), comparing their effectiveness and demonstrating how deflection timing alters the path.
Gamification & Education
Includes a "Defend the Earth" time challenge mode where users test deflection strategies under pressure, supplemented with educational tooltips explaining complex scientific terms.
The Real Victory: Learning Under Pressure
While the team did not win the primary hackathon prize, Abdelrahman accomplished an immense technical feat: He had never used Three.js before this event. Within a matter of days, under tight hackathon time pressure, he learned 3D browser graphics and physics simulation from scratch, successfully shipping a working interactive 3D product.