NASA Space Apps Challenge Tel Aviv 2026

Welcome to NASA Space Apps Tel Aviv 2026

Join us for the NASA International Space Apps Challenge on November 14-15, 2026 - a two-day hackathon where multidisciplinary teams develop solutions to real-world challenges using NASA and Space Agency Partner open data and resources.

The NASA Space Apps Tel Aviv Local Event is organized by the Space Engineering Center and SpaceTAU at Tel Aviv University.

This year's event combines online and in-person collaboration:

November 14 - Online via Zoom
November 15 - In person at Tel Aviv University

The main event will be conducted in Hebrew, with Engl

ish-language support and accommodations available for international participants.

You don't need to be a space expert or an experienced developer to take part. We're bringing together developers, designers, engineers, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, students, storytellers, product people, data specialists, and curious problem-solvers.

If you enjoy solving problems, building things, exploring data, or turning ideas into something real - there's a place for you on a team.

Registration

Registration for teams participating in the Tel Aviv Local Event is open through our local team registration form:

Register your team:
https://forms.gle/tpWk1GsnmYsUCYuu5

Please note that this is the local Tel Aviv registration form. Participants will also need to complete the required registration steps on the official NASA Space Apps platform in order to submit a project and be eligible for the global judging process. NASA's 2026 guidance requires participants to be officially registered, part of a Team, and associated with a Challenge for project submission and global judging. 

What is NASA Space Apps?

NASA Space Apps is a global hackathon that brings together people from different backgrounds to solve challenges related to Earth, space, science, technology, data, exploration, and more.

NASA publishes a set of official global Challenges created by subject-matter experts. Teams choose one Challenge and develop a solution using NASA and Space Agency Partner data and resources.

Your solution could be an app, an AI tool, a data visualization, a scientific concept, a physical prototype, a game, an educational experience, a new service - or something completely different.

How the hackathon works

Participants work in teams on one of the official NASA Space Apps Challenges.

Official Space Apps teams can include 1-6 participants, and teams that combine different skills and backgrounds are encouraged. 

November 14 - Online

The hackathon starts on November 14 via Zoom.

You'll begin working on your selected Challenge, explore the relevant datasets and resources, define your approach, and start developing your solution with your team.

November 15 - In Person

On November 15, we'll meet at the Wolfson Engineering Building at Tel Aviv University.

Teams will continue developing and refining their projects, work with mentors, finalize their submissions, and prepare their presentations.

The in-person event will conclude with project presentations and local awards.

Projects must be submitted through the official NASA Space Apps platform by November 15 at 11:59 PM local time to be eligible for the global judging process. 

Form your team before the hackathon

Participation in NASA Space Apps is team-based.

Teams can include 1-6 participants. Even a solo participant must create a Team on the official Space Apps platform. 

If you already have people you want to work with, you can start building your team.

If you don't have a team yet, that's fine.

Before the hackathon, we'll host online meetups for participants who are looking for teammates. These sessions will give you a chance to meet other participants, share your skills and interests, explore potential Challenges, and form a multidisciplinary team.

The goal is simple: by the time the hackathon starts on November 14, you'll already know who you're working with and be ready to start building.

You can also use the NASA Space Apps Tel Aviv WhatsApp community to receive updates and connect with other participants:

Join the WhatsApp community:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/GzeTRL6u8niBAV6SBGddZe

Prepare before the hackathon

We'll host online preparation sessions before November 14.

These sessions are designed to help you arrive ready to start building - not to spend the first day figuring out how everything works.

We'll cover:

• How NASA Space Apps works
• How to explore and choose a Challenge
• How to use NASA and Space Agency Partner datasets and resources
• How to form a strong multidisciplinary team
• How to turn a Challenge into a project
• What makes a strong Space Apps submission
• What your team needs to submit
• How local and global judging works
• Team formation for participants who don't yet have a team

Dates and Zoom details will be shared with registered participants before the hackathon.

Important: before the event, teams can explore Challenges, datasets, and potential directions, but project work itself should begin during the hackathon. NASA's team-formation guidance specifically notes that pre-event activities should not become work on the actual solution. 

Challenges

Each team chooses one official NASA Space Apps Challenge.

The choice is open. The Space Engineering Center at Tel Aviv University has highlighted six Challenges that are especially relevant to the Center's areas of activity, including remote sensing, satellite data, mission planning, and Moon and Mars exploration. 

We'll share Challenge summaries and recommended Challenges with participants ahead of the event.

Full Challenge details, including datasets and resources, are scheduled to be published on October 28, 2026. 

Explore the 2026 Challenges:
https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/2026/challenges/

Build locally. Compete globally.

Teams will submit their projects through the official NASA Space Apps platform.

Projects from the Tel Aviv event will be evaluated by our Local Judging Panel using the NASA Space Apps judging framework.

Local Judges will then select projects to advance as Global Nominees. These projects continue to the NASA Space Apps Global Judging process. The deadline for Local Leads to submit Global Nominees is November 22, 2026. 08.2026 Event Planning Kit

Local awards and prizes are separate from the global judging process, so teams may also receive recognition at the Tel Aviv event regardless of whether they advance globally.

More information about mentors, judges, judging criteria, local awards, and prizes will be announced before the event.

Who should join?

You don't need previous NASA, space, or hackathon experience.

We're looking for people with different skills and perspectives:

Software Development · AI · Data · Engineering · Science · Space · Product · Design · Research · Entrepreneurship · Business · Communication · Storytelling

You don't need to know how to do everything.

That's why you have a team.

Stay Connected

For participant updates, registration information, team formation, Challenges, mentors, judges, and event announcements:

Local Team Registration:
https://forms.gle/tpWk1GsnmYsUCYuu5

NASA Space Apps Tel Aviv WhatsApp Community:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/GzeTRL6u8niBAV6SBGddZe

NASA Space Apps Tel Aviv on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nasa-space-apps-tlv/

2026 Challenges:
https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/2026/challenges/

Event Details

Dates: November 14-15, 2026
November 14: Online via Zoom
November 15: In person
Venue: Wolfson Engineering Building, Tel Aviv University
Language: Hebrew, with English support for international participants
Organized by: Space Engineering Center & SpaceTAU, Tel Aviv University

Before the hackathon, we'll share preparation sessions, team formation updates, recommended Challenges, participant resources, mentors and judges, the detailed schedule, and everything you need to arrive ready.

Register your team, join the community, and follow us for updates.

See you in Tel Aviv.