Why a Space Hackathon Says Non-Programmers Welcome

The 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge runs Nov. 14–15 as a two-day global event, with teams working on challenges written by NASA subject matter experts and using the agency's free and open data. It's usually described as a hackathon, but NASA is explicit that participants don't have to be programmers: students, scientists, engineers, designers, storytellers, technologists and space enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels are invited to contribute. This year's challenges collectively support three focus areas — returning humans to the Moon, preparing for missions deeper into the solar system, and expanding understanding of the universe. Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, frames the aim as students using NASA data sets to help build an interplanetary survival guide while also inspiring ideas that improve life on Earth.