Common Questions

 The Student Astronaut Challenge is an aerospace-related secondary (grades 6th-12th) STEM competition. Student teams of  six initially participate in a qualifying test where their scores are averaged for ranking. Students can test to participate in either the Apollo League (Advanced level) or the Mercury League (Beginner to Intermediate level). The top fourteen teams are then selected for each league. These teams compete in a four event final competition that is held annually at the Kennedy Space Center in February over three days.  

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. 

• Each team must have a school representative that will act as the primary sponsor. Only one sponsor is required per school or organization.
• The qualifying test consists of a 100 multiple choice question test based on the Student Astronaut Challenge textbook
• Students compete as a six person team, each individually taking a different version of the test. The average score of the team is used to obtain their ranking and determine if they qualify to participate in the final competition. 
• The qualifying test will be on-line and it normally occurs in September. The specific date of the qualifying test will be posted on the website, Teams must register and pay the $50.00 per team fee on the website. Schools may register as many teams as they wish.
• Teams can be formed from any public or private school. Teams  from non-school affiliated clubs or home-schooled organizations can register but are subject to competition review for approval on a case by case basis.

When the finalists are selected, a school representative (coach) is required to come to a free three day training session in Tallahassee, Florida. This coach training, held in October, focuses on how to prepare the students for all four events including the space flight simulation. Team members are not permitted to attend coach training and the coach is responsible for all costs to attend the training.    

• The run-off competition registration fee is $50.00 per team.
• The registration fee for the final competition, held at the Kennedy Space Center, is $730 per team. This covers participation in all four events, the three day park pass for six students and two coaches, event parking, the awards presentation and eight Astronaut Challenge team shirts. All teams are responsible for transportation, lodging and meals. 

The  Qualifying Test:

• Schools can have as many teams as they wish participate in the qualifying test. The more teams that participate, the greater the chance a school has of being selected for the finals.
• All teams participating in the qualifying event will be ranked by their score either in the Apollo League or Mercury League category based on their selection.  

The final competition:

• The Student Astronaut Challenge follows a one team-one school policy for the final competition. Regardless of ranking, only one school can be represented in the finals and in only one of the two leagues. 
• The qualifying position in the finals is the property of the school that sponsors the team. The makeup of the team members that will participate in the final is up to the school being represented.