NASA SpaceApps Challenge is a NASA incubator innovation program launched in 2012. It is one of the largest international annual hackathons, with a mission to develop innovative solutions to problems affecting us at home and in space. The 48-hour long hackathon takes place simultaneously in numerous major cities across the world. The 26 challenges presented at the hackathon are divided into six major categories: Technology, Aeronautics, Space Station, Solar System, Earth, and Journey to Mars. Each team worked on one challenge of their choice.

Bangladesh became a destination for the NASA SpaceApps hackathon last year, when it was held for the first time in our country. NASA SpaceApps Challenge 2016 was held at IUB from 22-23 April, 2016. More than 300 teams from Dhaka and 100 teams from Rajshahi and Chittagong signed up for the hackathon.

A grueling 48-hours of brainstorming and coding led to some novel solutions to difficult challenges. At the end, six finalists were chosen, one winner and one runner-up from each city. In Dhaka, Team Winger became winners and Team Reboot of IUB runners-up. In Rajshahi, the team presenting the project Moytri: The Drone Aider came in first place, with team that came up with the Water Management and Supply System solution in second. TrackIt and Project Jade were the two entries from Chittagong that were awarded winner and runners-up respectively.