SPACE: We’re always fascinated by the ideas about space-related technology that come from brains much smarter than our own, so we thought we’d share these interesting projects with readers.

NASA announced 10 ongoing projects that “are providing opportunities for the public to participate in NASA’s Asteroid Grand Challenge, which accelerates the agency’s asteroid initiative work through innovative partnerships and collaborations,” according to a press release from the organization.

NASA and Asteroid Grand Challenge partner SpaceGAMBIT have engaged the Maui Makers in Hawaii to help.

Here’s what NASA had to say about the 10 projects:

• Asteroid Hackathon: Engage astronomers, space geeks, coders, and interested citizens to help make Earth safer by re-imagining asteroid data. Read more about the Hackathon here: http://www.nasa.gov/content/asteroid-hackathon/.

• Asteroid Response Center: An interactive multimedia installation focusing on asteroid science and planetary protection. The presentation has been exhibited at Burning Man 2014 and World Maker Faire New York.

• Ultrascope: An automated robotic observatory that can be laser-cut and 3D printed at home.

• Black Rock Observatory: A tourist office/welcome center for the rest of the universe.

• The Wayward Rock: An interactive, space-based adventure where it’s up to you to save the world! Participants will learn about asteroids through extraterrestrial imaging data, discuss their solutions with like-minded students, and build a physical prototype of their own brilliant ideas if they have access to a local makerspace or fab lab.

• Cosmosium: Browser game built to inspire and educate the general population using asteroid data from NASA.

• Light Sight: An open-source system for the fabrication of extremely low cost parabolic mirrors for the use in amateur telescopes.

• Central Spark: Software that simplifies, automates, and speeds up submission of astronomical sightings and discoveries to central object databases, social media feeds, and “Internet of Things” cloud services.

• DIY Space Exploration: Create engaging content that will inspire the general public to support and participate in space exploration.

• Curiosity Hacked Space Badges: Earn badges by exploring space-related and space technology concepts and skills.

Readers can find more information about the projects at www.spacegambit.org.