NASA Global Track
Use real NASA open data
Pick an official NASA challenge and build with open data from NASA and its partner agencies. Winners advance to the global awards and a NASA Center celebration.
View the Austin event on Space Apps
Powered by SerpApiFree API credits for every participant
November 14–15, 2026Austin, Texas
One weekend.One project.Two competitions.
- Seats
- 200Seats
- In prizes
- $10,000In prizes
- To enter
- FreeTo enter
- Skill levels
- AllSkill levels
The next frontier
RiverHacks is Austin Community College’s official hackathon — partnering with the NASA Space Apps Challenge in Austin to join the world’s largest global space & science hackathon, themed “The Next Frontier.” Two days, in person, alongside 17 international space agencies.
Pick your lane
Two tracks.
One submission.
RiverHacks Track
No NASA dataset required
One challenge: Build Something Great. Perfect for creative, interdisciplinary or first-time teams.
- Mind of the Astronaut
- On-Ship Ecosystem
- AI for Space
- Space Play & Fitness
- AI Space Search
- Spacesuit AR
Do both — with one single project
What you're playing for
Prizes
Total pool
$10,000
- $3,000
1st place overall
- $1,500
2nd place overall
- $500
3rd place overall
- $5,000
Bold Innovation in Search & AI
presented by SerpApi · allocated by special jury
Two deadlines — Sunday
1:00 PM CST
RiverHacks submission
judged in Austin
11:59 PM CST
NASA global submission
winners announced Jan 2027
Ship once before 1:00 PM to be judged in Austin, then push the same project to the global submission by 11:59 PM.
Three steps
How to
participate
Apply on Luma — we’ll confirm your seat. Apply on Luma
Once approved, register at spaceappschallenge.org and choose Austin. spaceappschallenge.org
Show up Nov 14 — teams of up to 6, or form one on the spot.
Between now and launch
Aug 26
NASA registration opens
Sept 17
Challenge summaries released
Oct 28
Full challenge statements
Nov 14–15
Hackathon weekend · 9:00 AM CST
Apply for a seat
200 seats · applications reviewed · free to enter
Partner with us
Sponsor
RiverHacks
The world. Your ideas. One weekend to launch change. Put your tools in 200 builders' hands for a weekend, and your name on the work that comes out of it.
- Local universities represented
- AllLocal universities represented
- Max participants
- 200Max participants
- In prizes
- $10KIn prizes
- Middle & high schools in Central Austin
- K–12Middle & high schools in Central Austin
Swipe through the tiers →
Startup Supporter
< $1,000
- Logo on the event site and welcome packet
- Shout-out across our social channels
Silver Sponsor
$2,500
- Everything in Startup Supporter
- Logo on the participant T-shirts and stickers
- Two minutes on the main stage at opening
- Sponsor table, both days
Gold Sponsor
$5,000
- Everything in Silver
- 30-minute workshop or tech talk on the schedule
- Logo on main-stage and winners’ backdrop
- Logo on every participant’s certificate
Platinum Sponsor
$10,000
2 available
- Everything in Gold
- One seat on the judging panel for final pitches
- Your own named challenge track, your brief
- Your API credits in all 200 builders’ hands
- Post-event: opt-in résumé book + build report
Title Partner
$15,000+
Secured · 1 of 1 · SerpApi
- Everything in Platinum
- Two tables, two workshops, two judges’ seats
- Naming rights: “RiverHacks, powered by SerpApi”
- Opening-deck slot to introduce your tool
- First option to renew for 2027
Build solutions.Inspire the future.
Leave Your Mark.
Save the date
Austin, Texas
November 14–15, 2026
Austin, Texas
Doors 9:00 AM CST Saturday. Two days, in person, teams of up to six — or form one on the spot.
Where
Austin Community College — Rio Grande Campus
Building 1000
1212 Rio Grande St
Austin, TX 78701
200 seats · applications reviewed
Open in MapsSeats are limited to 200.
Applications are reviewed as they come in.