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The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is proud to once again partner with NASA for the International Space Apps Challenge. SANSA has be a previous participant in the challenge for a few years and committed to continue to support this incredible opportunity when NASA celebrated the tenth edition of the Space Apps Challenge in 2021. South Africa was one of ten partner space agencies to encourage worldwide participation in solving global challenges using space data.

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge (Space Apps) is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space.

Each October, over the course of two days, Space Apps brings participants from around the world together at hundreds of in-person and virtual local events to solve challenges submitted by NASA experts. After the hackathon, project submissions are judged by space agency experts and winners are selected for one of 10 Global Awards.

Space Apps provides problem-solvers worldwide with NASA’s free and open data, giving teams the opportunity to learn how to use these resources to solve each year’s challenges.

The 2022 NASA International Space Apps Challenge theme is “Make Space!” as we strive to eliminate barriers of access to space and science opportunities. Space Apps is for anyone and everyone! Participants from around the world are welcomed regardless of background and experience to create, explore, learn, and build together. Through each year’s Space Apps Challenge, we continue to support and empower ideas through innovation and inclusion.

The South African participation in Space Apps have grown leaps and bounds since last year with over 60 entries to this year’s event. Teams will meet at Diep in die Berg in Pretoria and online to join the Space Apps Programme, access subject matter experts and tune in to space science and space engineering presentations from SANSA mentors.

SANSA is also proud to announce that South Africa has been chosen as one of only three countries that will be directly supported by a NASA International Space Apps representative at the event in Pretoria. The other events with NASA representation take place in Madrid, Spain and New-York, USA

One of the SANSA mandates is to grow the knowledge economy and is proud to be part of this global initiative to encourage people from all walks of life to participate in the problem-solving event of this scale. Watch this space for the update on the Apps developed by South Africans and if any have been put through to the global finals that occur in a weeks time.

SANSA hopes to attract even more participants in next year’s event!

Issued by The South African National Space Agency