For the third year running, Huntsville will serve as the Mainstage site for the NASA International Space Apps Challenge Oct. 18-20. The global 48-hour hackathon brings together participants of all ages and backgrounds to solve real-world problems with collaborative, innovative solutions. The teams then work with NASA’s open source data and products and design innovative solutions to scientific challenges faced on Earth and in space.
Facilitated by Urban Engine of Huntsville and other local sponsors, the event will kick off at the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Invention to Innovation Center. The awards on the final day will take place at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. As a Mainstage site, Huntsville is the central hub for the international competition.
“We are excited to join teams all around the world to solve NASA challenges, as it is through such teamwork and collaboration that we will again reach the Moon by 2024,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, program manager of NASA’s Human Landing System, based at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Watson-Morgan will give remarks 9 a.m. Oct. 18 at the event kickoff.
The competition brings together students, scientists, engineers, storytellers, artists, computer programmers and more. Teams can choose from a diverse variety of challenge categories, including:
Earth’s Oceans
Our Moon
Planets Near and Far
To the Stars
Living in Our World
Invent Your Own Challenge
The Huntsville event is one of more than 200 worldwide and begins Friday, Oct. 18, at 8 a.m. with check-in, followed by speakers, panels, and a team social event. The event continues on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 8 a.m. with a morning of speakers and a challenge overview, and the hackathon officially starting at 11 a.m. Events conclude Sunday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. A full schedule of the Huntsville events can be found here.
Interested participants may attend an event in any of the participating physical locations around the world, or participate virtually by registering here. Winners of the Huntsville competition will receive cash and prizes from local sponsors. Registration also will be available onsite at the local event on the morning of Oct. 18.
To learn more or register for the event, visit: