SpaceQ Space news and analysis.
A record number of Canadian locations, 12, will host the annual NASA International Space Apps Challenge on October 7 and 8.
This year will be the 12th year for the annual hackathon geared for students and the 7th consecutive year the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is involved.
According to the CSA the event brings together “participants from across the country will join students, programmers, designers, engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world to tackle science, design, and communication challenges.”
Each year there are local and national winners selected by the organizers and global winners selected by NASA. Winners have gone on to join existing space organizations or start their own businesses. The founders of SkyWatch, a Waterloo area based space data company, won the global competition in 2014 which encouraged them to the start their own business.
In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) this year the event “is being hosted in collaboration with University of Toronto Aerospace Team (UTAT) and the GTA space community group, Space6ix. Together they aim to unite tech enthusiasts, scientists, and space lovers, fostering collaboration and opening doors to space exploration for everyone” according to a press release issued by the group. Space6ix is a diverse community of space enthusiasts, professionals, and curious minds in the Greater Toronto Area, established in May 2023.”
Newsha Haghgoo, the GTA event organizer, said, “We are thrilled to announce Toronto’s participation in NASA’s Space Apps Challenge. This event provides a unique platform for individuals in the GTA to not only engage with space exploration but also connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for the cosmos. We want to put Canada on the global space map!”
The NASA International Space Apps website lists all the locations for the event. To date, nearly 400 people have registered to participate in the Canadian locations listed here.
