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

HUNTSVILLE — 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.

“It was a great time, and before it was over we knew we would be back in 2018,” Eberhardt said.

To have Huntsville as the 2018 Mainstage city will help put Rocket City on the map as a hub for aerospace and technological powerhouses, according to Dr. Deborah Barnhardt, CEO of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

“We are going to be to space travel what Silicon Valley has been to electronics, and this event … is just one more step on our path to that vision,” Barnhardt said.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the challenge is a perfect fit for the people of Huntsville.

“This is a challenge that is made for Huntsville, Alabama, and this is a challenge that I look forward to seeing our young people, our millennials and our ‘double-millennials’ all working on this together … so that we provide some solutions for what is coming in the future,” Battle said. “As we look at the technology and use that, Huntsville will be at the forefront again.”

This year’s theme for the Space Apps Challenge is “Earth and Space!” NASA has not yet released the specific challenges, but Eberhardt said examples of last year’s challenges were predictive analysis for when landslides will occur and how to let first responders know as quickly as possible when a forest fire has broken out. She said participants can expect similar challenges this year, as well as challenges dealing with space, and not all of them will be open-ended.

The competition will last nonstop from Saturday to Sunday. Teams will have a set amount of time to address the challenge and develop a pitch to present to the judges in the finale event on Sunday. Winners will be awarded cash and prizes totaling more than $10,000.

Eberhardt explained that the finalists from Huntsville’s event will also have a chance to compete globally with finalists from other cities.

Both Harold “Hal” Brewer, co-founder and chairman of the Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, and Georgina Chapman, director of workforce development for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, challenged local companies to have teams participate in the competition.

“This can be a great team-building exercise for your company … [and] it’s a great opportunity for businesses to help support STEM education in Huntsville,” Brewer said. “ … Come out, show us what you’re made of … let’s see who’s best.”

Chapman said not only is the Space Apps Challenge competition a great opportunity for companies, but so is the Oct. 19 expo.

“Together we can show the world the kinds of smart careers that are happening right here in Huntsville, Alabama,” Chapman said.

Eberhardt urged that people should not feel as if they need to have certain interests or skill sets to participate.

“You don’t have to be a technical professional or someone with an interest in science, technology, engineering and math directly to participate,” she said. “In fact, it’s very important that teams have people who have business acumen, creative thinking and presentation skills. So, if you’re someone who wants to get involved and you don’t think it’s ‘you,’ I highly encourage you to show up … find some other people that need your skill sets.”

According to Eberhardt, all portions of the event are free and open to the public. Though participants can register at the door, Eberhardt recommended registering online in advance. This also allows them to help participants find a team if they do not already have one.

To register, volunteer, become a sponsor, view the schedule or find out more information, visit spaceappshsv.com.