Writer / Kara Reibel
Photography Provided
T-minus 36 hours of coding, engineering and design work for actual NASA challenges via NASA SpaceApps comes to Broad Ripple.
With space exploration being an international affair, it only makes sense that NASA would hold a global hackathon to provide creative minds from across the globe an opportunity to present solutions to six of the top issues facing the space program.
The only host site across the Midwest was at DeveloperTown in Broad Ripple, the Midwest Mecca for hackers.
“We are thrilled to host this event of this scale,” shares Korey Clements, Designer with DeveloperTown and event coordinator.
Beginning at 9 a.m. April 23 and culminating with judges awarding their accomplishments the following evening, coders were prepared to stay overnight inside DeveloperTown to complete their task if needed.
“We were prepared for anything,” says DeveloperTown Partner Mike Kelly.
Teams assembled the morning of the event. Some were established, others bonded quickly upon registering. Upon breaking out into teams, the fun began. They selected from six challenge themes: technology, aeronautics, Space Station, solar system, Earth and journey to Mars.
No prep work could be done ahead of time. All work commenced once the teams broke out into their groups.
Teams earned awards in the following categories: Best Use of Data, Best Use of Hardware, Best Mission Concept, Most Inspirational, Galactic Impact and People’s Choice.
For the complete list of winners and challenge details, visit 2016.spaceappschallenge.org.
