Back NASA International Space Apps Challenge Spanish International Space Apps Challenge Italian Space Apps Challenge Japanese NASA International Space Apps Challenge Romanian Space Apps Turkish
 | |
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Global |
| Website | Space Apps Challenge |
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is an event where NASA Subject Matter Experts author challenges relating to real-world problems on Earth and Space and/or current NASA initiatives. Participants from around the world can form teams that work to develop solutions through the use of NASA and its Space Agency Partners’ open data over the two-day hackathon event.
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 220,000+ registrants from 185+ countries/territories.
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 both Earth and space science and technology. Today, NASA Space Apps features arts and humanities challenges alongside the technology challenges, building a more inclusive program with broader appeal, the highest participation numbers ever, and a marked increase in projects submitted with technology and art themes.
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.