NASA names Huntsville 2018’s Mainstage city for Space Apps program

Come October, Huntsville will be put on the map as the city takes the “main stage” for NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge.

The 48-hour “hackathon” competition, open to both professionals and students ages 13 and up, will take place Oct. 20-21 in cities around the world. In 2017, more than 180 cities hosted their own Space Apps Challenge competitions.

A day prior to the competition, there will be a conference featuring an aerospace industry and technology expo, keynote speakers and panels featuring experts and celebrities on earth and space subjects. As the 2018 Mainstage city, Huntsville’s event will be livestreamed to millions across the globe.

Urban Engine, a local nonprofit that aims to “propel the growth of North Alabama’s economy” through different avenues, is serving as the coordinator for Huntsville’s Space Apps Challenge event. Executive Director Toni Eberhardt described the event as a way to help students and professionals “learn about NASA’s work through developing solutions to its challenges in earth and space science.” She said Urban Engine decided to bring the event to Huntsville after experiencing it themselves.

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