On October 5th and 6th, the 2024 NASA International Space Apps Challenge engaged participants around the world to use NASA data to creatively approach challenges facing humans in Earth and space. Landsat Outreach Specialist Mike Taylor represented Landsat at the annual hackathon’s event in Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico.
Among this year’s Space Apps Challenges was “Landsat Reflectance Data: On the Fly and at Your Fingertips.” The participants’ task was to create a user-friendly app that would identify when Landsat was passing over a specific land area, then access the Landsat data at that place and time. The goal is to make it easier for people to link on-the-ground research to Landsat’s satellite research by being able to easily access and download data at specific locations. Including the teams in Hermosillo, 233 teams worldwide submitted to the Landsat Reflectance Data challenge.
Taylor advised the challenge at Sonora Norte Campus at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. To kick off the two-day event, he shared his journey through NASA, hoping to inspire the students, and then worked closely with groups as they developed their projects.
“I was amazed by their creativity, enthusiasm, and problem-solving skills. It was a truly inspiring experience to witness their passion for science and their potential to become future leaders in the field,” said Taylor.
Taylor reported that the highlight of the event was the awards ceremony, where top teams were recognized for their work.
NASA Space Apps Challenge offers a unique opportunity for NASA to come together with a global community of coders, scientists, artists, students, and storytellers to collaborate and innovate. Elizabeth Joyner, a community coordinator with NASA Earth Science Data Systems, highlighted Space Apps’ many benefits to both NASA and participants. NASA cultivates fresh ideas, fosters emerging talent, connects to new communities, and tests how effective its data is in the hands of new communities. Participants gain experience working with NASA data, develop problem-solving skills, and leave with successful projects that can demonstrate their skills to future employers.
“It’s important to remember that the Space Apps Challenge is not about creating fully realized solutions in just two days,” Joyner said. “Rather, it’s about inspiring creativity, fostering collaboration, and generating innovative ideas that can contribute to NASA’s mission.”
Winners of the International Space Apps Challenge, including those for the Landsat challenge, will be announced January 2025.
