Attention all techies, dreamers, and innovators! The world’s largest aerospace hackathon, the NASA Space Apps Challenge, is set to blast off on October 5-6, 2024, at the Innovation Building of the Universidad Fidélitas in San Pedro, Costa Rica.
What is the NASA Space Apps Challenge?
This global hackathon invites programmers, scientists, designers, artists, creators, technologists, and innovators to solve earthly and extraterrestrial problems using NASA’s open data and open-source technology. Held annually in over 170 cities, the event draws about 57,000 participants who are challenged to come up with solutions to real-world problems in just 48 hours.
Who Can Participate?
NASA International Space Apps Challenge is an inclusive space welcoming people of all ages, skill levels, and professional backgrounds. Whether you’re a seasoned coder, a student, or just someone passionate about science and technology, there’s a place for you here. Costa Rica’s edition of this event, known as NASA Space Apps Puravida, will take place in a hybrid format, allowing participation from all provinces. The in-person segment will be hosted at Universidad Fidélitas’ brand-new Innovation Building in San Pedro.
What’s in it for You?
Participants in Costa Rica can win various national prizes and certificates. But the real treat is for the global winners who will get an exclusive invitation to NASA’s facilities for the award ceremony. Imagine rubbing elbows with NASA leaders, sharing your project, and learning about cutting-edge scientific developments straight from the source. The top 10 projects globally will be selected by the judges of the International Space Apps Challenge.
No Experience Needed
One of the best things about the NASA Space Apps Challenge is its openness. You don’t need prior experience or advanced knowledge in science, engineering, or mathematics to join. The event is accessible to everyone, including students. There will be pre-event and during-event talks and workshops to get you up to speed on the competition and the challenges. This means anyone with a keen interest in science, technology, and space can participate and make a significant contribution.
How to Register?
Registration opens on July 18. Visit the official NASA page at spaceappschallenge.org to sign up. The winning teams from Costa Rica will have the chance to compete in the global finals, where the victors will be awarded a camp at NASA Headquarters.
Learning and Networking
“The NASA Space Apps Challenge offers much more than just a competition. It’s an extraordinary learning experience,” said Katherine Marín Guzmán, deputy director of Electrical, Electromechanical, Mechatronics, and Telecommunications Engineering at Universidad Fidélitas. “Participants will have access to talks, workshops, and interactive activities on the latest technologies such as cloud computing, data science, generative artificial intelligence, and machine learning.”
Additionally, Marín Guzmán highlighted the unique networking opportunities the event provides. “The event will also offer the chance to interact with mentors, experts, and other participants, fostering an exchange of knowledge and experiences. This collaborative environment allows participants to explore new technologies and innovative approaches to address challenges in aerospace and their applications on Earth,” she concluded.
So, if you’ve got a knack for tech and a love for space, this is your moment. The NASA Space Apps Challenge is your chance to be part of something bigger than yourself, to contribute to solving some of the most pressing challenges we face on Earth and beyond. Mark your calendars for October 5-6, 2024, and get ready to innovate, collaborate, and elevate your ideas to new heights.
Remember, the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.
