Nasa selects IBM’s Bluemix platform for space application development challenge

Nasa has selected IBM’s Bluemix platform for its Space App Challenge Virtual Event, a code-a-thon where participants will develop various applications, software and platform solutions that could be used for space exploration missions.

The three-day virtual challenge will bring together developers, scientists, students, entrepreneurs and educators, to create applications, software, hardware, data visualisation and platform solutions.

The event is expected to attract more than 10,000 developers from across 136 cities this year.

IBM will help participants to access publicly available data to design solutions across four categories, including outerspace, Earth, humans and robotics.

Participants will get free access to more than 100 Cloud-based services such as Watson analytics and internet of things (IoT) tools through Bluemix platform.

As part of the challenge, participants will make use of data aggregators and analytics to develop a system that could help Nasa track asteroids.

Participants will have access to more than 200 Nasa data sources, including data sets, services and tools through real-life Nasa missions and technology.

IBM cloud ecosystem and developers general manager Sandy Carter said: "The Nasa International Space Apps Challenge is at the forefront of innovation, providing real-world examples of how technology can be used to by the best and brightest developers in the world to solve some of the most daunting challenges facing our civilisation.

"Using the IBM Cloud, IBM is making it easier for developers to solve Nasa challenges by helping them leverage and make sense of data in ways that wouldn’t have been possible even just a few years ago."

Participants will also evaluate senor data to guide movement for robots, as well as develop a mobile / web app / SMS capability for growers to implement creative methods for cultivation.