RiverHacks NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026

🚀 RiverHacks × NASA Space Apps Challenge is back! Part of the World’s Largest Global Space & Science Hackathon. Now on the 2026 edition with the theme: "The Next Frontier" 📍 Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus (1212 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701, Building 1000) 🗓 November 14–15th, 2026 Get ready to explore space, build with purpose, and make your mark at RiverHacks × NASA Space Apps Challenge — Austin’s most exciting space & science hackathon for students, storytellers, and future explorers. Whether you’re a College Student, K–12 student, an educator, an engineer, or a dreamer, this two-day in-person experience connects curious minds from across Central Texas to solve real-world problems using open NASA data. 🛰 One Project: Two Hackathon Experience Whether you dive into NASA’s global challenges or our RiverHacks "Build something great" challenge, or both... the countdown is on ⚡ 🚀 Official NASA Space Apps Global Challenge Track -2026 CHALLENGES NOT RELEASED YET- tinyurl.com/joinatxspaceapps (For now it will say "Page not found", please wait for page to go live soon!) 👉 Explore them past 2025 Challenges here: https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/2025/challenges/ Start practicing on one of the 18 official 2025 challenges using real open data from NASA and its international space partners. NASA Open datasets: https://data.nasa.gov/ 🌌 RiverHacks 2026One Main Challenge: 🚀 Build Something Great! These challenge do not require NASA datasets, making them perfect for creative, interdisciplinary, or beginner-friendly teams. We’ve changed this year’s hackathon format to keep it simple and practical for RiverHacks participants. Get ideas flowing with this 8 optional inspiration paths :1. Mind of the Astronaut – Mental health, nutrition, rest, routines2. On-Ship Ecosystem – Water, waste, food system software3. AI for Space – Mission coordination & exploration AI4. Space Fitness – Movement & recreation beyond Earth5. Space Search Engine's – ISS-friendly public data search6. Spacesuit with AR – Navigation & daily routine support for lunar missions OR 7. Get inspired by the 2025-2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge8. Practice a Bold Innovation in Search & AI (Open to any innovations related to the hackathon theme: "The Next Frontier") --Compete in both hackathons with one single project-- Prizes & Judging: •💰 RiverHacks Top 3 Overall: 🤖 Bold Innovation in Search & AI Award: A special jury will select multiple winners and they will decide how to allocate the $5000 across the teams that meet the required bold innovations! NASA Space Apps winners get global recognition and the ABILITY TO PASS TO NASA GLOBAL WINNING AWARDS 🌐 📊 Judging Criteria: RiverHacks Projects will be evaluated on: NASA Space Apps Projects will be evaluated on: 🗓 Key Dates 🎁 What to Expect 🤝 Sponsors & Community RiverHacks NASA Space Apps is powered by SerpApi SerpApi is our Title Partner. This local Austin-based company provides a real-time API to access Google and so many other search results providers. They handle proxies, solve captchas, and parse all rich structured JSON data for you. Participants will have access to free credits for the tool! For FREE API credits, visit: https://serpapi.com/search-engine-apis ---We are looking for more sponsors!— 👀 Want to sponsor RiverHacks? Sponsor tiers flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14MeobzzVha0luoRpQjlkobB8TLWZ7YjC/view?usp=sharing 🪙 Platinum Sponsor: TBD 🏆 Gold Sponsor: TBD 🥈Silver Sponsor: TBD 🥉Bronze Sponsors: TBD Email us at [email protected] Join the mission. Think big. Build bold. And wonderful collaborators like And a Special Thanks to CGCS (Center for Government and Civic Service) for providing such an amazing venue in the heart of Austin, TX. 👉 Register now to secure your spot. 200 Max Capacity