Hosted in Toronto's most exciting maker space, the MaxQ Challenge is a space-themed maker hackathon. Come join us to learn something new, build something cool, or start a company.

The Maker Hackathon

In a hackathon context, the word "hack" is used to describe how multiple technologies can be used together in a new and innovative way. The maker hackathon brings together developers, designers, engineers, scientists, creators, and other makers to explore the modern world of space data and hardware.

Challenges

Open Space Data:

You’re living on a changing planet, monitored by orbiting spectrometers. You’ve been granted early access to an index of datasets from 5 emissions satellites; AIRS (NASA JPL), GOSAT (JAXA), MOPITT (NASA EOS), OCO-2 (NASA JPL), and TES (NASA JPL). Locate specific sources of greenhouse gases, identify changes over time, or create impactful visualizations.

Physical Prototyping:

You're sending astronauts aboard an orbiting spacecraft. In closed life support systems, control of pathogenic microorganisms is critical. You've been granted access to a cnc laser cutter so you can rapidly cut components from sheet material with high precision. Design a biofilter that can be packed flat and assembled in orbit, research and propose a culture to treat graywater and gas loaded with ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, or build a purification system to remove enough suspended particles that ultraviolet germicidal irradiation of the output is effective.

Ingenious Creations:

You're the boss. Invent an ingenious space-related concept and wow the room with your ability to both identify real-world problems and solve them.

Schedule

13 August – Hackathon: MaxQ Challenge – 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Take the day to build something cool, and show off your creations in the late afternoon.

Lunch and dinner provided.