NASA is bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers from all over the world for its second annual International Space Apps Challenge on April 20 and 21. Thousands are expected to meet up in person or virtually to collaborate on open-source solutions for Earth and space.

Thousands within the tech and space community from all over the world will meet up this weekend to create technological advancements to benefit life on Earth and in space.

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NASA is hosting its second annual International Space Apps Challenge on April 20 and 21. The challenge will draw people from all seven continents as well as from space, according to the NASA website. There will be participants meeting at 50 local events and many others participating virtually.

The challenge has more than doubled in size since last year's event, which a NASApress releasesays had2,000 participants.

There are 50 challenges participants can choose from in the 2013 event: 25 devised by NASA, and the other 25 suggested by the challenge's partners. Participants develop solutions in one of the four categories: software, hardware, data visualization, and citizen science. Nick Skytland, program manager for NASA's Open Innovation Program says part of what makes it interesting is the scale of the challenge.

I firmly believe that NASAs greatest potential will never be reached unless we reach people outside of our organization, Mr. Skytlandsays.

The challenge brings the kind of diversity and talent that NASA needs, he says. They have brought together Sillicon Valley developers, rocket scientists, and 16-year-olds like Sam Wilkinson, who last year developed space bread.

Skytland says he was surprised by the high quality of the results in the first year.

Originally posted here:

NASA Space Apps Challenge aims for worldwide collaboration