NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2026 — Free 48-Hour Global Hackathon

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a global hackathon that returns every year and draws participants from around the world. Teams spend the event building solutions with data that NASA has made openly available, and anyone with an interest in space, technology or storytelling is welcome to take part.

Dates and format

The 2026 edition runs for 48 hours, from 2 to 4 October 2026. You can join online or attend a local in-person event — many of these are hosted worldwide, including several locations across India. Wherever you join from, you work on the same challenge set.

What teams work on

Challenge themes cover Earth science, space exploration, robotics and data visualisation, among others. Innovators, developers, designers, scientists and storytellers all contribute, and the open data itself is the raw material for every project.

Cost and how to enter

Taking part is free. Registration is handled through the official competition page, and sign-ups stay open right up to the point the event begins. There is no cash prize on offer — the reward is recognition, mentoring and access.

• Free to enter — registration costs nothing and there are no entry restrictions
• 48-hour hackathon running 2–4 October 2026, with the application deadline listed as 2026-10-04
• Join virtually or at a local in-person event, including several locations across India
• Open to all ages and nationalities, solo entrants or teams of any size
• Solve challenges in Earth science, space exploration, robotics and data visualisation using NASA's open data
• Every participant gets a digital certificate; standout projects reach NASA's international judging panel

The challenge is genuinely open: there are no age limits, no nationality criteria and no cap on team size. Students, working professionals, entrepreneurs and space enthusiasts all take part on the same footing, and you do not need any prior experience with NASA or its data.

• Solo or team entry — you can register on your own and then join or assemble a team during the event.
• No sector or background filter — developers, designers, scientists, engineers and storytellers are all encouraged.
• Global participation — participants join from countries around the world, either virtually or through a local in-person event, including multiple locations across India.

If you are unsure whether you qualify, the answer is almost certainly yes — the organisers have deliberately kept entry unrestricted.

NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2026 — Free 48-Hour Global Hackathon is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Applications for NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2026 — Free 48-Hour Global Hackathon are open and the current deadline is 4 Oct 2026. Applications are closing soon, so prepare your documents early. Deadlines can change — always reconfirm on the official source before submitting.

This is a competition rather than a funding programme, so there is no cash prize. What participants gain is recognition, skills and access.

• Certificate for everyone — each participant receives a digital certificate of participation.
• Global recognition for top projects — the strongest entries are nominated for NASA's international judging panel and presented to NASA scientists and engineers.
• Mentorship — guidance from space scientists and industry professionals during the build.
• Open data access — full use of NASA's open data library as the basis for your project.
• Networking — connections with space professionals and innovators drawn from 150+ countries.
• Alumni community — membership in a global network of past participants.

Along the way, teams pick up practical experience in space technology, data science and systems design. You first compete locally, and the best work then advances to judging by NASA experts.

There is no written application to clear — you enter by registering and then building during the event itself.

• Step 1: Register for free through the official competition page before the event begins.
• Step 2: Join virtually or at a local event and form your team — you may register alone and find teammates on the day.
• Step 3: Build for 48 hours, from 2 to 4 October 2026, working on the published challenges using NASA's open data.
• Step 4: Local judging — your project is first assessed where you compete.
• Step 5: Global judging — the top projects are nominated to NASA's international judging panel and presented to NASA scientists and engineers, who decide the global recognition.

Before you apply to NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2026 — Free 48-Hour Global Hackathon, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.