Registration for the 2022 NASA International Space Apps Challenge is now open. The theme for this year’s Space Apps Challenge is “Make Space,” and each of the annual hackathon’s 22 challenge statements demonstrate that, at Space Apps, there is always space for one more to participate. Whether you are a scientist, artist, coder, storyteller, maker, or other type of innovator, there’s a challenge for you! So, what are you waiting for? Events for this year’s Space Apps Challenge will take place virtually and in-person in locations around the world!
The Space Apps Challenge was created in 2012 to introduce problem-solvers worldwide to NASA and its space agency partners’ free and open data. By participating in Space Apps Challenges, team members learn about NASA’s data holdings and share in the creation and application of the knowledge resulting from their efforts. The Space Apps Challenge also encourages collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and leverages participants’ interest in space and Earth science to foster the next generation of scientists, technologists, designers, science communicators, and engineers.
Several of this year’s challenges highlight the importance of open science in Earth science research, including:
- The Art in our Worlds: Create an application using Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence techniques that allows users to input short text phrases, matches those inputs to NASA Earth science data or imagery, and displays the results in a creative and artistic manner
- Measuring Open Science: Invent a new metric for evaluating the effectiveness of open science activities, such as sharing data, software, tools, and results
- Turning STEM into STEAM: Develop a creative approach that combines science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM) to share and explain the design, process, and scientific results from a NASA or partner space agency research project
- Nimbus to Now: The History Of Nasa’s Earth-Observing Missions: Create an engaging multimedia depiction of a NASA Earth-observing mission that demonstrates how it evolved over time to include new technologies and meet science-driven needs
Since its inception, NASA’s Space Apps Challenge has engaged more than 150,000 people from more than 150 countries and territories. This year, NASA is joined by 11 international space agency partners—Australian Space Agency, Brazilian Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, Indian Space Research Organization (new for 2022), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Mexican Space Agency (new for 2022), National Space Activities Commission of Argentina, National Space Science Agency of Bahrain, Paraguayan Space Agency, and the South African National Space Agency. Space agency partnership encourages more extensive global collaboration and provides a broader platform for participants to contribute to the fields of Earth and space science and technology through Space Apps.
After the hackathon, project submissions will be judged by space agency experts and winners will be selected for one of 10 Global Awards in several categories, including Best Use of Science, Best Use of Data, Best Use of Technology, Most Inspirational, Best Storytelling, and more.
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is an annual event led by the Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is organized in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, SecondMuse, and NASA’s Open Innovation Initiative and Applied Sciences Program.
To register, or for more information about the event, visit the Space Apps Challenge website.
