MCCTC Students Complete NASA App Challenge

CANFIELD, Ohio – ​​Students in Mahoning County Career & Technical Center’s software development class have achieved a milestone in innovation and teamwork by completing their submission for NASA’s App Development Challenge.

The intensive 10-week program tasked students with designing an application to visualize the mission profile for Artemis II – the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo.

Guided by Billy Young, a simulation software engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the MCCTC team developed a state-of-the-art application using Unity, a leading game development platform. Their app features 3D mission visualization, real-time data displays and interactive features like camera toggles and playback controls.

“Being part of a project tied to the Artemis mission has been incredible,” said Asher Renzenbrink, a software development student at MCCTC. “I never thought I’d get the chance to work with NASA engineers and contribute to something so historic.”

The App Development Challenge provided students with a unique opportunity to work on real-world problems while enhancing their technical expertise. Beyond coding and design, the experience fostered critical thinking, innovation and collaboration skills essential for future careers in STEM fields.

The Artemis II mission represents NASA’s renewed commitment to lunar exploration, paving the way for future missions to Mars. 

Pictured at top: From left are Kodi Elshalabi, Chandler Culp, Billy Young via Google Meet, Jackson Whipkey, Clayton Phillips and Asher Renzenbrink.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.