Challenge One - Space Flight Simulation Challenge: three rounds (including a semi-final and final) where teams are required to perform the pre-flight operation, launch, orbit and landing of the Space Shuttle Enterprise flight simulator and the operation and responsibilities of the mission control team. During the semi-final and final rounds, students are provided with in-flight emergencies that must be managed to safely complete their mission.
Challenge Two - Engineering Challenge: a hands-on challenge where students are provided an aerospace related problem. Working as two teams – mission control and Skylab flight crew - they are required to use teamwork and collaboration to solve a series of challenges and reach a solution.
Challenge Three - Design Challenge :
Part One (Apollo and Mercury League) - The physical design challenge involves solving a specific space-related issue. Teams are provided a problem before the competition that they must evaluate, research and then propose a solution to. During the competition they will present their results to a team of judges made up of Engineers and Scientists from Blue Origin Aerospace Corporation.
Part Two (Apollo and Mercury League) - In the patch design challenge students create a team flight patch (before the competition) related to a specific space-related theme. Teams will present a color drawing of their patch along with a their design description to a team of judges during the competition. The patch design will be judged based on NASA's mission flight patch criteria and its relevance to the theme.
Part Three (Mercury League Only) - mailbox design challenge to create a mailbox for a specific space-related theme as part of the Blue Origins "Post Cards into Space" clubs. The prototype will be constructed and used at their school and the mailed post cards will be flown on a Blue Origins flight and returned to the school for mailing. Teams will present their design proposal and prototype at the competition to a team of judges made up of Engineers and Scientists from Blue Origin Aerospace Corporation.
Challenge Four - Landing Simulation Challenge: two rounds (including run-offs and finals) where team members work in pairs to perform one of three types of landings of the Space Shuttle Enterprise flight simulator and the operation and responsibilities of the mission control team.