Chicago, IL

Hello, Chicago!

Welcome to the NASA Space Apps 2020 Chicago page! This year, the event will take place between October 2-4 and NewSpace Chicago will be hosting the Chicago location. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the interest of our global community’s health and safety, this year’s hackathon will be an all-virtual event. In other words, all local events will be moved online. Our theme for this year’s event -- "Take Action" -- is a critical reminder that you can make a difference, even from the comfort and safety of home.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS

As you begin your Space Apps journey, we encourage you to keep the following information in mind.

• Register for the Chicago location: You will not be able to participate in the hackathon until you have registered for a location. Please click the "Register Now" button on this page to register for the Chicago location. Or create a Space Apps account (if you do not already have one) to register. You can change your location at any time in your user dashboard. Select "Change Location." Registration will be open through the end of the hackathon. However, we encourage you to create an account and register for a location at least one week before the hackathon in order to join the chat rooms and form teams.
• Save the Date: The hackathon will begin Saturday, October 3 at 10:00 AM local time, when you and your team will be able to submit projects. The hackathon will end on Sunday, October 4 at 5 PM local time. The chat rooms and team formation will open in the week prior (see below).
• Recruit Friends: We encourage you to invite your friends along! Typical Space Apps teams have 2-6 participants (the limit is 6 members per team). Space Apps is all about collaboration and the most successful teams are often ones with a diverse set of skills and expertise -- coding, storytelling, creativity, data, science, engineering, technology, and more.
• Connect with the Community: Follow Space Apps on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to receive the latest announcements. In mid-September, tune in to our Virtual Bootcamp to access exclusive content from NASA, Local Leads, Space Apps Ambassadors, and former Global Winners. Guests will provide relevant workshops on data and other topics, discuss challenge themes, and provide tips for having a successful hackathon experience.
• Pick a Challenge: The challenges will be released on our website several weeks before the hackathon. Once they are posted, browse the options and decide which one you want to solve! Recommended data for each challenge can be found by clicking the "Example Resources" tab.
• Join the Chat Rooms: Space Apps chat will open more than a week prior to the hackathon. There, you can connect with the global community and search for teammates. There will also be challenge channels, where you can connect with Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs) and Space Apps Ambassadors once the hackathon starts. They will be available to answer your questions about the challenges and the data, particularly during Space Apps weekend!
• Join a Team: In the week leading up to the hackathon, you will be able to create your own team or request to join an existing team. To join an existing team, browse the teams on your location page or the challenge page of your choice.
• Submit a Project: Once the hackathon starts on October 3 at 9AM (local time), start solving! Before the event ends, remember to complete your team’s project page (where you describe your project, tell us about the data you used, and share a demonstration of your project).
• Judging and Awards: Space Apps is all about collaboration and problem solving. However, we do offer awards to the most promising projects. More information about judging and awards can be found in the Participant FAQ and will be shared closer to the start of the hackathon.

Learn more! Do you want to know more about the challenges, chat rooms, project submission, and awards and other important information? Please consult the Participant FAQ and other guides (once they are posted) on the Space Apps resources page and on your user dashboard.

Thank you! We’re looking forward to a fun-filled Space Apps weekend!