Perth, Western Australia

NASA INTERNATIONAL SPACE APPS CHALLENGE

Space Hub Perth and CORE Innovation Hub are hosting this year's virtual NASA International Space Apps Challenge. This is a global virtual hackathon to be held on the weekend of 3- 4 October 2020 . Last year, it was held in over 75 countries and 187 cities, with over 29,000 participants and 2,000+ teams. The event takes a collaborative approach to problem solving where teams aim to produce solutions to NASA defined challenges that we currently face here on Earth and in space. Check out the 7 challenge categories: Observe, Inform, Sustain, Create, Confront, Connect and Invent Your Own Challenge.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Anyone. Absolutely anyone! Space is for everyone. If you have a background or are just interested in business, entrepreneurship, science, art, history, engineering, design, law, technology, mathematics, education, health, sports, performing arts, hospitality, automotive mechanics or many other areas, then you're perfect for this hackathon. Have you studied at uni? Or maybe you've never studied? No problem. Are you still at school? Great. Are you working? Or maybe you're not working? It doesn't matter. And no, you don't have to know how to code, though you can if you want to. It's amazing what ideas and solutions people from various backgrounds come up with.

We said above that "Space is for everyone". You might not know it, but everyday life is heavily reliant on space and space-related products and services. As the 21st century heads into its third decade, this is only going to increase, meaning more opportunities for everyone to work "in or with space". The Space Apps Challenge gives you a taste of what might be in store for your future. If you want to learn more about how you can be a part of the NewSpace race, check out the following video:

WHY ARE WE RUNNING THIS?

CORE Innovation Hub's goal in supporting the Space Apps Challenge is to draw on our thriving tech community and resources and energy sector, one of WA's sectors of strength, to create a community that builds new enterprises in the space sector. Space Hub Perth, which is supported by CORE, has the same goal of building a commercial space sector in WA, except we have a broader remit and we're drawing on every industry, research and educational institutions and government to do so. This event is an opportunity for talented problem solvers to come together and showcase their skills for the betterment of humanity.

DETAILS

Here's the video from our recent information night. It will answer all of your questions about this virtual challenge:

If you still have questions, you can email them to Perth Local Lead, Conrad, at spacehubperth@gmail.com.

Communicating During Space Apps with Rocket Chat

Since this year's event is online, we'll be using Space Apps char platform, Rocket Chat, this weekend to communicate as a group, where you can have team chats, and also create teams. In fact, once registered, you can start using Rocket Chat right now, before the weekend, to find or form a team.

If you haven't logged on to Rocket Chat yet, all you need to do is:

• Log in to your account at https://2020.spaceappschallenge.org/
• Go to your 'Dashboard' (near the top right of the screen, next to 'logout'
• Click on the 'Communications' tab
• From here, click the yellow button that says 'Launch Chat'
• This is the Rocket Chat dashboard! From here select the perth-western-australia chat from the list on the left hand side of the screen, and you're there!
• BTW, were giving a prize to one lucky individual participating in Space Apps Perth, who posts in perth-western-australia channel on Rocket Chat before 8am (Perth time) on Saturday 3rd October 2020. Log in to Rocket Chat to find out the details about how you can win.

Project Submission

As this is a virtual Challenge this year, you will not be presenting your solution in person in front of of a panell of judges. It will all be online.

As per the 2020 Project Submission Guide, you must provide a "demo" of your project by sharing a public link to slides (up to 7) or a video (30 second limit). Please review the 2020 Project Submission Guide for further details.

TEAM SIZE

Team size should be between 2 and 6 people.

UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE?

Not a problem. We want to you register for the challenge and amaze us with your ideas. However, we do recommend that you do so with a parent or guardian (i.e. they should also register).

PRIZES

Prizes are awarded to the top two winning teams in Perth.

We're busy sorting out the details for this event and we'll be providing more information here and in Rocket Chat in the lead up to the Challenge, so keep checking this page and Rocket Chat for updates.

Remember, as this is a virtual challenge, you can easily participate from home or from another location convenient to you. There no need to travel, catch the bus, pay for parking etc. How easy is that?

2019 TEAM RECEIVES GLOBAL HONOURABLE MENTION

Perth team Scitech was one of only 6 teams globally that received an Honourable Mention by NASA!

CONTACT US

Register now to get involved!

Email the Perth Local Lead, Conrad, at spacehubperth@gmail.com with any questions or ideas, or if you are interested in being a volunteer, mentor, sponsor or partner.

LAST YEAR'S EVENT

Here's a picture of the participants at the end of the Space Apps Challenge in 2019. Check out https://2019.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/perth/ for last year's winners.