SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA — Is it possible to participate in a prestigious international challenge backed by NASA without being a programmer, engineer, or aerospace specialist? In Costa Rica, the answer is a resounding yes.

The NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026 has officially opened its call for entries across Costa Rica. The world’s largest space-and-Earth hackathon welcomes individuals of all ages, academic backgrounds, and experience levels who want to leverage creativity, science, and teamwork to solve pressing global and space problems.

“The call is open to elementary students, high schoolers, university students, professionals, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and researchers. No academic degree or specific prior knowledge is required. Creativity, critical thinking, and the desire to learn are key.”

— Andrea Hidalgo, Civil Engineering Professor at Universidad Fidélitas

From Satellite Data to Artificial Intelligence

During the 48-hour event, multidisciplinary teams will select one of NASA’s official challenges. The competition covers a wide spectrum of cutting-edge topics:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Big Data: Analyzing complex planetary datasets.
• Climate Change & Earth Science: Creating actionable solutions for climate resilience using satellite imagery.
• Robotics & Space Exploration: Designing models and hardware concepts for orbital and deep-space missions.
• Life Improvement: Developing practical apps and tools that benefit daily life on Earth and in space.

According to Kendrick Palacios, Local Lead for NASA Space Apps, the objective extends beyond simple ideas. Teams are guided to build functional prototypes, data models, apps, or research frameworks with real potential to evolve after the hackathon ends. Mentors specializing in coding, project management, and public speaking will support beginners throughout the process.

Global Recognition and Evaluation Criteria

Top projects created during the Costa Rican edition won’t just earn local awards and corporate scholarships—they will also advance to the global NASA Space Apps evaluation, opening doors to present proposals directly before NASA scientists and engineers.

Project Evaluation Grid

Event Details & Registration Info

Participation in the NASA Space Apps Challenge Costa Rica is completely free, but registration is mandatory and closes on November 13.

• Virtual Kickoff: November 13 at 7:30 p.m.
• In-Person Hackathon: November 14 & 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Venue: Universidad Fidélitas, Montes de Oca Campus, San José
• Official Event Page: NASA Space Apps San José Registration

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