Each year, the NASA incubator innovation program, the Space Apps Challenge, brings together coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and everyone enthusiastic about curiosity for 48 hours where they address challenges we face on Earth and in space.

This year, the event is taking place October 19-21, and there are going to be over 200 different locations around the world hosting local events tied to the challenge, making it the biggest one yet. Not only that, but you can participate virtually from anywhere if you can’t find an event near you. You can learn more about the challenge and find a location near you at SpaceAppsChallenge.org

Today, though, we’re going to be focusing on one of these local events to give you an idea of what you can expect if you attend one of these hackathons – that’s because this interview was recorded by SSPI Communications Manager Matthew Owen in  Orlando, Florida, at the University of Central Florida. He spoke with Anita Kirkovska and Marina Trajkovska, two of the local organizers, about what’s to come later this month with the Orlando Space Apps Challenge.

Anita (left) is a veteran Space Apps organizer for 5 years in Europe and now in the USA. She is a space and data enthusiast, growth hacker and a Fulbright scholar and a graduate student at UCF. Marina (right) is a techie working with global digital companies, the QA for their products, She is involved in many community programs and is hyped about anything and everything related to tech.