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 AppsNovember 14–15, 2026Austin, Texas
One weekend.One project.Two competitions.
Registration is closed.All 200 seats are filled.
- Anyone can still join NASA Space Apps online. spaceappschallenge.org
- Seats filled
- 200Seats filled
- 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
Registration on Luma is closed: all 200 seats are filled.
Registered? Also 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
Registration is closed.All 200 seats are filled.
- Anyone can still join NASA Space Apps online. spaceappschallenge.org
Partner with us
Sponsors
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
Available tiers
Three ways to put your name on the weekend.
Swipe through the tiers →
Gold Sponsor
$5,000
Available
- 30-minute workshop or tech talk on the schedule
- Logo on the main stage and winners’ backdrop
- Logo on every participant’s certificate
- Plus everything in Silver
Silver Sponsor
$2,500
Available
- Logo on participant T-shirts and stickers
- Two minutes on the main stage at opening
- A sponsor table, both days
- Plus everything in Startup Supporter
Startup Supporter
Under $1,000
Available
- Logo on the event site and welcome packet
- Social media shout-out
Build solutions.Inspire the future.
Leave Your Mark.
Become a sponsor
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
Registration closed · all 200 seats filled
Open in MapsRegistration is closed.All 200 seats are filled.
- Anyone can still join NASA Space Apps online. spaceappschallenge.org