 | |
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Global |
| Website | Space Apps Challenge |
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is the largest global annual hackathon. This two-day event provides an opportunity for participants to utilize NASA's free and open data and its Space Agency Partners' space-based data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space.
During the hackathon, NASA Space Apps Challenge participants around the world gather at hundreds of in-person and virtual local events to address challenges submitted by NASA subject matter experts (SMEs). In the early years, NASA Space Apps was primarily focused on space science and technology. However, in 2017, NASA Space Apps moved to the NASA Earth Science Division and expanded to include Earth science and technology. Today, NASA Space Apps features arts and humanities alongside technology challenges, building a more inclusive program with broader appeal. These challenges range in complexity and topic, tasking participants with everything from creating artistic visualizations of NASA data to conceptualizing and developing informational apps and software programs.
The program, formerly run by NASA's Office of the Chief Information Officer, is part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and is a part of the Open Government Initiative founded under President Barack Obama. It also fulfills the United States’ commitments to the Open Government Partnership. The United States released its National Action Plan for the Open Government Partnership in September 2011, including a commitment to hold the NASA International Space Apps Challenge to “promote innovation through international collaboration”. Today, NASA Space Apps is managed by the Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
NASA Space Apps fosters interest in Earth and space science, technology, and exploration and encourages the growth and diversity of the next generation of problem solvers, innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs. NASA Space Apps has engaged 373,000+ registrants from 185+ countries/territories.
NASA collaborates with international Space Agency Partners on the NASA Space Apps Challenge to encourage more extensive global collaboration and provides a broader platform for participants to contribute to the fields of Earth and space science and technology through NASA Space Apps.