RiverHacks < > NASA Space Apps Challenge
🚀 RiverHacks × NASA Space Apps Challenge
Part of the World’s Largest Global Space & Science Hackathon
📍 Austin Community College – Rio Grande Campus (1212 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701)
🗓 October 4–5, 2025
Get ready to explore space, build with purpose, and make your mark at RiverHacks × NASA Space Apps Challenge — Austin’s most exciting space & science hackathon for students, storytellers, and future explorers.
Whether you’re a College Student, K–12 student, an educator, an engineer, or a dreamer, this two-day in-person experience connects curious minds from across Central Texas to solve real-world problems using open NASA data.
🛰 Dual-Track Hackathon Experience
At RiverHacks, you’ll choose how you want to compete. We offer a dual-track format that lets you aim for global impact or explore local creativity:
🚀 Official NASA Space Apps Global Challenge Track
🗓 Releasing August 21
Take on one of 19 official NASA Space Apps global challenges, using real open data from NASA and its space agency partners.
🌌 RiverHacks Challenge Tracks
Six original, locally-developed tracks exploring life in space from all angles — wellness, design, coordination, ai and more.
These tracks do not require NASA datasets, making them perfect for creative, interdisciplinary, or beginner-friendly teams.
🧠 RiverHacks 2025 Challenge Tracks (More TBA)
Mind of the Astronaut – Mental health & team dynamics, nutrition, rest & daily routines
On-Ship Ecosystem – Software to monitor, optimize, or simulate water, waste, and food systems in space
AI for Space – AI-powered solutions to coordinate missions or unlock new space exploration capabilities
[ TRACK REVEALED ON AUGUST 21st]
[ TRACK REVEALED ON HACKATHON DAY ]
[ TRACK REVEALED ON HACKATHON DAY ]
🎯 The 4th Challenge will be set in stone by August 21st: The same day NASA Space Apps reveals their 19 tracks...
🏆 RiverHacks Awards (More TBA)
Projects will be judged across categories like:
🛡️ Health & Resilience / Living Well in Space
🌿 Regenerative Design
💡 The Groundbreaker (Most Original Idea)
🚀 Mission-Ready (Best MVP)
🧠 Next Frontier in AI
🗓 Key Dates
Team Formation & NASA Track Reveal → August 21, 2025
Event Begins → October 4 @ 9:00 AM CST
Submissions Close → October 5 @ 1:00 PM CST
NASA Challenge Statements & Datasets Released → September 16
🎁 What to Expect
Solve official NASA challenges or build from bold, original RiverHacks tracks
Work with real open datasets
Free meals, snacks, swag, and mentorship
Diverse teams, no experience required
Prizes, recognition, and global visibility
🤝 Sponsors & Community
RiverHacks is proudly working with renown organizations:
SWIFT
Girlstart
Impact Forward Club
(More sponsors to be announced soon...)
👀 Want to sponsor RiverHacks?
Click here or email us at stefano.casafrancalaos@austincc.edu
Join the mission. Think big. Build bold.
👉 Register now to secure your spot.