During the fourth annual space apps hackathon, NASA announced a new partnership with IBM to build some of the most useful applications that can be used to benefit the NASA space program in the United States.
The hackathon takes place over several days and brings together computer programmers, engineers, graphic designers, interface designers, and others to work together to create new and innovative software programs.
NASA first organized the event to seek input from sources outside the space agency. Since the first event, it has grown in popularity and risen to become a major event in which technology companies and academic institutions search for new talent and collaborate to design innovative applications. The Worldwide NASA challenge competition will be based in New York although events will be held in 135 additional locations between April 10 and 12.
IBM will partner with NASA, giving all participants access to its cloud services and technical support, which will be provided by employees at the event.
IBM will also offer challenge participants free access to Bluemix, allowing them to draw on cloud development tools ranging from Watson Analytics to the Internet of Things in order to create, test and then deploy apps more rapidly.
For example, participants that are building apps for the robotics category could use IBM's Internet of Things service to build an app for the "sensor yourself" challenge and include analytics services with Bluemix to analyze and make sense of the sensor data for a robot simulator.
For IBM, this partnership is the perfect opportunity to network with software developers and encourage people to pursue careers in technology. It also allows them to showcase their technology and promote Bluemix.
"We want to provide developers access to the top technology trends to spur innovation," explained Sandy Carter, general manager of IBM's cloud division.
The joint hackathon includes a competition which will see IBM award $120,000 in Bluemix services to 30 participants who create the most innovative apps for NASA. Last month, IBM held a competition of their own at Howard University to introduce students in engineering and computer science to their Bluemix development platform.
NASA will separately grant awards in five different categories and several fields. These include robotics, earth science, space exploration, human health, astronaut health, crop growing in space, food printing in space, and hazardous asteroid tracking. Winners of the hackathon may get to see their apps used in future projects by the space agency.
