Welcome, Future Astronauts!

Each team must have a school representative that will act as the primary sponsor. Only one sponsor is required per school or organization. The online qualifying test is 100 multiple choice questions based on the Student Astronaut Challenge vehicle technical manual. 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 which determines if the team qualifies for the main competition. Teams can compete in either the Mercury (Beginner to Intermediate) Division or Apollo (Advanced) Division. It is not recommended that new teams join the Apollo Division.

The specific date of the qualifying test will be posted on the website, Teams must register and pay the $50 per team fee before the deadline posted on the website. Schools may register as many teams as they wish for the qualifying test. 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.

The main competition consists of four different challenges. Each challenge is designed to test the teams in a variety of space based group problem solving strategies.

If selected to participate in the Mercury or Apollo Division main competition, an adult 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 challenges. Team members are not permitted to attend coach training, and the coach is responsible for all costs to attend the training. Teams must also pay the registration fee of $730 per team before the deadline posted on the website. This covers participation in all four challenges, the three day park pass for six students and two coaches, event parking, the awards presentation, and eight Astronaut Challenge T-Shirts.