NASA International Space Apps Challenge
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is the a 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. 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 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.
Judging and awards
After the NASA Space Apps Challenge concludes, each Local Event nominates teams with the top projects for Global Judging. The number of nominees depends on the number of projects submitted at each event. Local Events also may select an additional team for the Local People's Choice Award. Teams are also selected from the Universal Event to proceed to Global Judging.Each year, NASA attempts to invite Global Winners and Local Leads from winning locations to a NASA spacecraft launch. Global Winners are also featured on the NASA Space Apps website and social media.
In 2013, Mars Exploration Program offered the NASA Space Apps 2012 Global Winners the opportunity to attend the launch of MAVEN, a Mars Orbiter. Kennedy Space Center also provided winners of their challenges that opportunity. The launch occurred on November 18, 2013, on an Atlas V 401 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
NASA Space Apps 2013 Global and Kennedy Space Center winners attended the Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 launch. The launch scrubbed once on December 4 before occurring on December 5, 2014, on a Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
NASA Space Apps 2014 Global and the overall Kennedy Space Center winners attended the viewing opportunity for the Cygnus CRS OA-4 launch, taking cargo and experiments to the International Space Station. The launch scrubbed twice on December 3 and 4; it occurred on December 6, 2015, on an Atlas V 401 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
NASA Space Apps 2015 Global and the overall Kennedy Space Center winners were invited to attend the launch of OSIRIS-Rex, visiting the asteroid Bennu. The launch occurred on September 8, 2016, on an Atlas V 411 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
NASA Space Apps 2016 Global Winners were invited to attend the launch of TDRS-M, a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite operated by the Space Communications and Navigation Program. The mission experienced delays in weeks leading up to launch on August 18, 2017, on an Atlas V 401 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
In 2017, Global Winners were invited to attend the launch of TDRS-M, a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite operated by the Space Communications and Navigation Program. The mission experienced delays in weeks leading up to launch on August 18, 2017, on an Atlas V 401 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
NASA Space Apps 2018 Global Winners were invited to Kennedy Space Flight Center to attend the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket as part of SpaceX CRS-18, a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station.
In 2019, 2020, and 2021, invitations to NASA launches were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, Global Winners were invited to a virtual celebration with NASA representatives. In 2023-2025, Global Winners were invited to NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC and Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD for an in-person celebration.
NASA Space Apps participation by year
NASA Space Apps highlights by year
2025
The 2025 NASA International Space Apps Challenge was held on . The theme was "Learn, Launch, Lead" and inspires participants to learn skills to succeed in STEM fields, launch ideas that transform NASA's open data into actionable tools, and lead their community in driving technological innovation.The hackathon featured written by NASA subject matter experts, including topics such as:
- Solar Weather
- Meteors
- Agriculture
- International Space Station
- Exoplanets.
NASA Space Apps announced the 10 Global Winners on December 18, 2025 in social media posts on , , and .
2024
The 2024 NASA International Space Apps Challenge hackathon theme was "The Sun Touches Everything" in collaboration with celebration of the Helio Big Year. This year's theme aimed to illuminate the expansive reach of the Sun and its influence on every aspect of our environment and life on Earth.The hackathon featured 20 challenges written by NASA subject matter experts, including topics such as:
- Geographic Information Systems
- Exoplanet Exploration
- Actionable Use of Earth Observation Data
- Ocean Ecosystems
- Geomagnetic Storms
NASA Space Apps will announced the 10 2024 Global winners in on January 16, 2025, in a live . The announcement featured Dr. Mamta Patel Nagaraja, NASA Associate Chief Scientist for Exploration and Applied Research, and videos from the winning teams.
2023
The 2023 NASA International Space Apps Challenge hackathon theme was “Explore Open Science Together” in collaboration with NASA's The theme celebrated the benefits and successes created through the equitable and open sharing of knowledge and data and acknowledged 2023 as "A Year of Open Science," as declared by the White House, NASA, and other federal agencies. The NASA Space Apps Challenge incorporated open science tips, tools, and resources from the NASA TOPS initiative into the hackathon for participants.Challenge Topics:
- Open Science and Open Data
- NASA Technologies and Capabilities
- Planet and Space Science
- Earth Biology
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
The 2023 NASA Space Apps Challenge presented its 10 Global Winners during their live Global Winners Announcement on January 23, 2024 that was filmed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The announcement also included former NASA Astronaut,
2022
The 2022 NASA Space Apps Challenge hackathon theme was “Make Space” to emphasize NASA’s commitment to inclusivity. The hackathon focused on Earth and space science, technology, and exploration.In 2022, Space Apps introduced the Global Live event which streamed live from the NASA Space Apps Instagram. During the event, NASA Space Apps Global Organizing Team members highlighted Local Events in Madrid, Spain; Pretoria, South Africa; and New York City in real-time.
The 2022 NASA Space Apps Challenge Winners Announcement was announced live from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Challenge Topics:
- Climate Change
- Art & Storytelling
- The Sun
- Planets
- Data Visualization
2021
The 2021 NASA Space Apps Challenge marked the tenth annual event for the program with the theme, "The Power of Ten." To celebrate the occasion, organizers brought together ten Space Agency Partners to support the event and added four new award categories for a total of ten award categories for 2021: Best Storytelling, Global Connection, Art & Technology, Local Impact.The 2021 NASA Space Apps Challenge was an entirely virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Challenge Topics:
- James Webb Space Telescope
- Earth Observation Data
- Climate Change