NASA Announces Challenges For The 2013 International Space Apps Challenge

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Apr 12, 2013, 10:07 ET

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA and over 150 partner organizations worldwide will be hosting the International Space Apps Challenge on April 20-21, 2013. The International Space Apps Challenge is a technology development event during which citizens from around the world work together to solve challenges relevant to improving life on Earth and in space.

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NASA and its partners have released 50 challenges for the second International Space Apps Challenge. Participants are encouraged to develop software, hardware, data visualization, and mobile/web applications that will contribute to space exploration missions and help improve life on Earth. Examples of challenges include:

-- Spot the Station: Extend the functionality of the Spot the Station website (spotthestation.nasa.gov) that allows you to share your sightings of the International Space Station with others.

-- Hitch a Ride to Mars: Design a CubeSat (a small research satellite) for an upcoming Mars mission.

-- 3-D Printing Challenge: Create an open source model of space hardware that can be generated by a 3-D printer.

-- Curiosity at Home: Foster a connection between citizens and the Mars rover through software, visualizations, or an app.

-- Seven Minutes of Science: Develop a concept to make use of 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of ejectable mass during the entry and landing phase of a Mars mission to accomplish scientific or technical objectives.

-- Catch a Meteor: Create an app that would allow observers of a meteor shower to trace the location, color and size of the meteor.

-- Smart Cities, Smart Climate: Explore the impacts of atmospheric changes on the health, infrastructure and society in urban areas.

-- Why We Explore Space: Share the "why" of space exploration through the creation of compelling narratives and visualizations.

To register for a local International Space Apps Challenge event and to find more information, visit:

http://spaceappschallenge.org

For information about NASA's programs and missions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

SOURCE NASA