H-ACK NASA: The Space Apps Hackathon | H-FARM

H-ACK, Not Your Typical HackathonLaunched in 2012, it was Italy’s first hackathon to connect designers, programmers, and marketers with companies looking for new business sparks—all packed into a 24-hour, high-energy, no-sleep challenge.

NASA Space Apps Challenge: Solving Problems on Earth and in SpaceOur Local Event, NASA Space Apps Venice, is one of only 3 in Italy and is open to people of all ages, skills, and backgrounds who want to dive into science and tech to maybe even change the world (and the cosmos)!The theme of the NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2024 is The Sun Touches Everything, with challenges focusing on mapping potentially habitable exoplanets, designing “ocean worlds” to imagine life on planets without light, visualizing near-Earth space objects, creating games that work in microgravity, mapping greenhouse gases, and astrophysics and astronomy lessons for students.The over 200 participants at this H-ACK, ranging from 10 years old (our youngest hacker ever 🫶) to 50+, came up with projects like:An AI model that detects quakes on the Moon and MarsA space suit that simulates life on exoplanets, combining VR, haptic feedback, sound, and environmental sensationsA holographic AI assistant to make astronauts’ tasks more engagingAI for regenerative agricultureGamified physical training for astronautsAn exoplanet video game for kidsAir quality mappingThe winners of our hackathon will compete with other global nominees to win the participation to an award ceremony at a NASA location.

During the hackathon, participants drew inspiration and practical advice from experts in artificial intelligence, startup pitches, astronomy, astrophysics, and the space economy, such as:Alice Zurlo | Astrophysicist and Associate Professor at Universidad Diego Portales, ChileFilippo Bradaschia | President of PrimaLuceLabDiego Pizzocaro | CEO of H-FARM AIZeno Tosoni | Startup Manager at H-FARM Entrepreneurship & Startup Center

Italy has the chance to play a leading role in the space industry, thanks to you young people who are already looking to Mars and beyond. You’ve grown up with satellites above your heads and astronauts working on the ISS. Keep aiming further!Anilkumar DaveSpace Economy Expert and Research Fellow and Senior Advisor at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia