An integrated public policy information portal measuring the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and developed by Filipinos won the Space Apps Covid-19 Challenge. Inspired by social isolation experienced by astronauts in space, Snail Space (a wordplay for snail’s pace) is an app giving a “safe space” by providing mental care and comfort during times of social isolation brought about by the pandemic. The Space Apps Covid-19 Challenge is a special edition of NASA’s annual Space Apps Challenge, an international hackathon that takes place around the world and online every October. Space Apps 2019 included more than 29,000 participants in 71 countries, developing more than 2,000 hackathon solutions over one weekend. The next annual Space Apps Challenge is scheduled on Oct. 2 to 4, 2020 in a virtual format.

Source: Manila Times August 15, 2020 23:46 UTC