Now in its 8th year, Space Apps is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world, where teams engage with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. Space Apps 2019 included over 29,000 participants at more than 230 events in 80 countries.
For the first time Space Apps Challenge took place in Vilnius, Lithuania at Visoriai Information Technology Park. During the event 72 participants have used the data provided by NASA to create 16 solutions for challenges provided by NASA. Winning teams were called “Rock Stars” and “Sajans”. First have developed “CresceNet” – neural network for classification of rocks and minerals which will help scientists to identify unique not yet classified rocks on the moon. The second winning team have created educational game “ExoSelife”, which allows one to create a planet and selfie on this planet using filters which take exoplanet and star physical parameters into account.
Winners were selected by team of judges and general manager of SEC Consult Lithuanian office Miroslav Lučinskij was among them.
During the event interesting ideas were presented and developed – “Oceaneco” team presented a solution to make internet more accessible in the oceans, “PlanetCrafters” created an educational game which should encourage kids to be interested in space studies. “AwAir” presented a mobile app which attracts attention to CO2 emissions and related problems.
Overall this was a fun weekend to attend to and get creative with the NASA challenges and SEC Consult is happy to join the initiative and encourage people to work on global problems so that this world becomes a better place.