Space Apps Challenge comes to Rice

The Rice Space Institute (RSI) is the Houston host for NASA’s second annual International Space Apps Challenge, which takes place at 80 locations around the globe on April 20 and 21. The Rice event, open to all, will be at Brockman Hall, Room 101, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The challenge draws on the expertise of citizens who combine their skills to create open-source solutions, either software or hardware, to problems on Earth and for space exploration. Participants may work solo or in teams to address issues like air traffic control, travel to Mars, vision problems in space, backyard poultry farming, asteroid exploration and many more.

“Rice University has historical ties with the national space program, but it also has a reputation for forward-thinking and innovation that form its current relationship with NASA under the aegis of the Rice Space Institute,” said David Alexander, RSI director and a professor of physics and astronomy. “The International Space Apps Challenge incorporates a highly innovative approach that engages and inspires people around the world while benefiting from the ideas they generate.

“Each of the challenges presented is an important component of NASA’s overall mission,” Alexander said. “RSI’s partnership with NASA to host the Houston leg of this year’s challenge is not only a natural extension of our recent interactions but also a natural match with the skills and talents of our student body and their counterparts around the globe.”

To register for the challenge (required) and see a list of projects for the Houston challenge, visit http://spaceappschallenge.org/location/houston/.