A group of young programmers and hardware developers from the Delmarva region were part of a global 48-hour marathon in Salisbury last weekend to help develop the next generation of hardware and software applications for NASA.
NASA’s Second International Space Apps Challenge took place on every continent from over 80 locations–42 countries participated. The Salisbury group was one of the 19 locations in the US–and the only one from the Eastern Shore and Delmarva regions.
The five-member team that gathered in Salisbury ranged from high school sophomores from Nandua, VA to graduating seniors from Salisbury University in Maryland.
With a wish-list from NASA of over 50 software challenges, the Salisbury team chose to collaborate with a London team to help develop a soil testing kit that would have a primary use in agriculture–and be able to transmit data globally through the Internet and satellites.
The team worked nonstop from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and finished up on Sunday at 4 p.m. By Sunday, the London group had advanced to the next level of judging by NASA.
Mike Thielke, executive director of the Eastern Shore Entrepreneur Center and hotDesks.org in Salisbury, which provided facilities and global connectivity for the Apps Challenge, said the participants succeeded not only in supporting the London team, but also proved that local talent on Delmarva has an opportunity “to stay and live in the region and thrive in industry and government.”
“What we accomplished this weekend is a clear realization that the Eastern Shore is not just a powerhouse for corn and poultry production anymore, but a place where technology innovators can be schooled and live—making significant contributions in science and technology in the region,” Thielke said. “These young innovators proved they can make vast contributions where technological expertise and advancement is needed.”
Thielke pointed to opportunities at NASA‘s space facility at Wallops Island, VA where a venture between NASA and Orbital Sciences of Dulles, VA will launch rockets that resupply the International Space Station well into the next decade.
“There are great opportunities for young talent coming out of our science and engineering schools on Delmarva and our graduates are more than capable of supporting the mission at Wallops in the commercial and government sectors,” Thielke said.
The Apps Challenge coincided with the launch of the Anteres Rocket at Wallops on Sunday. The Salisbury team was able to get the launch just site in time for lift-off.
Thielke said ESEC’s focus is to bring local innovators and entrepreneurs together who can develop sustainable businesses as well as work in the technology sectors of the Delmarva region.
Speaking to the Apps Challenge, Brian Forde, a senior science advisor to President Barack Obama released a statement.
“[The event] encourages collaboration between government agencies and civil society organizations around the world to promote technology development and innovation based on the principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration that are at the core of citizen science. This inclusive approach leverages the expertise and entrepreneurial spirit of citizen explorers to find solutions to key global challenges.”
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