Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE NASA INTERNATIONAL SPACE APPS CHALLENGE?

Each October, over the course of two days, coders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists from around the world come together in a global hackathon. Participants in the NASA International Space Apps Challenge create in-person and virtual teams to solve challenges using open-source data from NASA and its Space Agency Partners.

The Space Apps Challenge will start on October 7 at 9:00 a.m. (local time) and end on October 8 at 11:59 p.m. (local time), when project submissions are due.

However, many Space Apps activities start before October 7. Once you sign up for a Space Apps account, start checking your Dashboard messages from the Space Apps Global Organizing (GO) Team for important information regarding your hackathon journey.

Please also look on your Local Event page and communicate with your Local Lead to learn about other events and deadlines that are specific to your location.

JULY

• Registration opens! Sign up for the 2023 Space Apps Challenge.
• Create an account or login to your existing profile if you’re a returning participant.
• Register for a Local Event near you or our Universal Event (please note you MUST be registered for a Local Event or Universal Event to participate).
• Learn more about your Local Event by connecting with your Local Lead. You can find their name and email address on your Local Event page. Each event will vary based on the plans of your Local Lead, so be sure to get plugged in!

JULY-AUGUST

• Review the Challenge Summaries in mid-August to get a sneak peek of what’s to come.
• Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to connect with your Space Apps community! Share your excitement and hackathon journey using #SpaceApps.
• Invite your friends to register for the Space Apps Challenge. The hackathon experience is even better when shared with friends!
• Check your dashboard messages! Once you register, you will start receiving messages from the GO Team in your inbox located on your user dashboard on the website. Check your messages frequently for updates and news about challenges, Virtual Bootcamp videos, upcoming deadlines, and more.
• Watch our Virtual Bootcamp video tutorials to learn valuable information and gain insights into the hackathon experience! All videos will be posted on the Space Apps Virtual Bootcamp webpage and on our YouTube channel.

SEPTEMBER

• If you haven’t already, create your account and register for a Local Event or the Universal Event. This step should be completed at least one to two weeks before the hackathon.
• New Local Events are added through August. So check back for a Local Event near you if there wasn’t one when you registered in July-August.
• Browse the Challenge Statements and start thinking about which one you want to tackle!
• In late September, the first wave of Space Apps Chat channels will open including:
  • Location-specific chat channels
  • "Find a Team" chat channels
  • Welcome and Announcement channels
• When the chat channels open, participants will be able to create teams or request to join existing teams (see the resources page for more details).

OCTOBER 7

First day of the hackathon:

• At 9:00 a.m. (local time) teams may begin working on their hackathon projects.
• Project submission opens at 9:00 a.m. Teams will be able to edit and submit their projects until 11:59 p.m. (local time) on October 8. See the Project Submission Guide for details.
• Experts from NASA, Space Agency Partners, and industry will be available in the Space Apps Chat channels to answer questions about the Challenge Statements and data.
• During the hackathon, we know you’ll be working with your team tirelessly to create your project. Don’t forget to take breaks, stay hydrated, and balance your hard work with fun!

OCTOBER 8

• The hackathon ends at 11:59pm (local time). All projects must be submitted to the Space Apps Challenge website by this deadline.
• Teams must submit their projects in accordance with the time of the Local Event location for which the team is registered. *If your team is registered for the Universal Event, your project must be submitted in accordance with the local time of the person who created the team (“Team Lead’).
• You did it! Pat yourself on the back for making it through the hackathon. What an achievement!

OCTOBER-DECEMBER

• Judging begins! Experts from NASA, Space Agency Partners, and industry will evaluate the projects and select the winners.
• Your team will be notified if you’ve been selected as a finalist or winner. Best of luck!
• See the Judging and Awards Guide for details about the Global Awards and judging process.