Q: How does one get help with Space Teams Academy?

There are many ways to get help.Within each activity you will see a tutorial button as you enter the activity. Guidance, explanation, instructions and some tips are all found in these tutorials. Start here for help.Keyboard and mouse commands are always available in popup menus at the bottom of the screen in the application. Tool tips are frequently available if you hover the mouse over something. Watch the tutorial for each activity. If you try to do the activity without watching this tutorial video, you are not giving yourself the information you need to succeed. A ton of great information is in each tutorial video - find these on the Activities page in your Dashboard.On the Learning tab in your Dashboard there are several Help documents for all aspects of Space Teams. One of these - called Hints, Tips and Tricks - has many very helpful suggestions for how to improve your design and maximize your team's score.There is a HELP button on the right side of your Dashboard. Select this to send the Space Teams support crew a ticket on anything at all. The response will be via Email, so keep an eye on your inbox.For overall program related questions, planning, coordination, training, billing and other administrative questions please contact us directly at Support@SpaceTeamsAcademy.com

Question 1

What is Space Teams Academy?

Accepted Answer

Space Teams Academy is designed for students, teachers, STEM leaders, after school clubs, museums or other organizations to customize and run the Space Teams education program according to their objectives and schedule.  There are 12 sessions that include a combination of broadcasts, lessons, quizzes, tutorials, design activities, virtual mission experiences, and expert speakers.  Teachers or STEM leaders can decide which sessions and activities to include in their own program or curriculum. Space Teams Academy can be used stand-alone, as a Space Club, or to supplement a space curriculum as part of a science or engineering class.  It is aligned with the NGSS middle and high school science objectives, certified as an ESSA Level 4 STEM program, and has been sponsored by NASA under the Space Grant KIDS program.  Students can do the program (or parts thereof) in teams or individually.  Teachers, mentors and students get support directly from Space Teams to set up, organize and run the program.

Question 2

When can I do Space Teams Academy?

Accepted Answer

Now! Individuals or teams can follow a self-guided program. Schools, clubs, and STEM organizations can customize their own program based on the 12 sessions, design activities and virtual mission experiences within the program.  Run Space Teams on your own schedule and we are here to help.

Question 3

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Space Teams Academy● Individual Students             - License for one computer - $195 USD ● Classes, Schools, Clubs, Museums, STEM Programs           - Seat License - $195 USD           - Student Account - $75 USD           - For example, a classroom with 8 computers would need 8 seat licenses, and then an              account for each student.  The number of Seats determines how many students can be              using Space Teams Academy at the same time.   For Competition Programs, Custom Camps/STEM Events:See Posted Event Pricing or for country-specific or special event pricing contact us:  Support@SpaceTeamsAcademy.comNegotiable prices for large scale events and in different countries/currencies.

Question 4

Interested in Live Webcast Events?

Accepted Answer

Space Teams Academy can provide kick-off and/or session-based live webcasts upon request for large programs.Program Kickoff WebcastSession Intro/Guidance WebcastsProgram Award CeremonyLive Subject Matter/Expert SpeakersCustom Events

Contact Support@SpaceTeamsAcademy.com for more details.

Question 5

What is the ideal team size?

Accepted Answer

Anywhere from 1 to 10 students can be on a team, but the best size is 2 to 4

Question 6

How does one get help with Space Teams Academy?

Accepted Answer

There are many ways to get help.​Within each activity you will see a tutorial button as you enter the activity.  Guidance, explanation, instructions and some tips are all found in these tutorials.  Start here for help.Keyboard and mouse commands are always available in popup menus at the bottom of the screen in the application.  Tool tips are frequently available if you hover the mouse over something.   Watch the tutorial for each activity.  If you try to do the activity without watching this tutorial video, you are not giving yourself the information you need to succeed.  A ton of great information is in each tutorial video - find these on the Activities page in your Dashboard.On the Learning tab in your Dashboard there are several Help documents for all aspects of Space Teams.  One of these - called Hints, Tips and Tricks - has many very helpful suggestions for how to improve your design and maximize your team's score.There is a HELP button on the right side of your Dashboard.  Select this to send the Space Teams support crew a ticket on anything at all.  The response will be via Email, so keep an eye on your inbox.For overall program related questions, planning, coordination, training, billing and other administrative questions please contact us directly at Support@SpaceTeamsAcademy.com

Question 7

Are team members working virtually?  Do they need to be together?

Accepted Answer

Space Teams Academy can be done as a team or as an individual.  Teams can be entirely remote and work together virtually on each of the activities.  When doing an activity you automatically have live voice communication with your team, and you can also use text chat if you wish.  But you don't have to be far part.  You can just as easily be sitting next to each other and your team can be in the same room.  All options are possible.

Question 8

What does it mean that AI guidance helps students with their designs?

Accepted Answer

Any spacecraft, habitat or other space system will have to meet certain requirements.  In this case, you must reach your destination, carry lots of cargo, and survive the journey.  Life support for your crew means that you require a certain amount of water, oxygen and food, and of course many other things such as clothing, exercise equipment, etc.  There are also science objectives for the duration of the mission using specialized instruments and facilities.

To save weight, you will also want to recycle everything to the greatest extent possible.  The AI system that is monitoring your team's design is looking at all of these objectives and performing simulated mission calculations to see what will happen in the future.  Will you run out of power?  Do you have enough supply and recycling capability for oxygen that your crew will survive, even if there is a failure?

The AI examines all of these things and lets you know if a particular resource or capability is missing or insufficient for your design.  This gives you the opportunity to figure out how to improve the design.  During this process, you will need to apply your knowledge and skills to solving each problem that the AI finds with your design.  Eventually, the AI will tell you that your mission is going to work!

Question 9

How much work is this for the teacher/mentor?

Accepted Answer

Our support team will help get your computer(s) set up, teach you how to create student accounts, and show you how your students will access the software.  There are a few short teacher videos and documentation, but our support crew can help with anything.

If you want to customize the program for your classroom, camp or STEM program (based on time available and desired topics), this is easy to do and we can assist.  Once students have their own accounts they tend to figure out most things on their own, or using the in-application tutorial, AI feedback, video lessons, and Help information.  Any questions can be answered by our support team.In short, a student can dive in and do the whole thing on their own.  Setting up a program for classroom, camp, or school take a little time to organize the activities and the student accounts, but it is easy and we can help.

Question 10

Is it fun?

Accepted Answer

It's a blast - see the videos and photos of students on the Past Events page!

Question 11

Can you see what other teams are doing and their scores?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on the leaderboard, which is found on the dashboard (main) website.

Question 12

What is Space Teams Academy Level 2?

Accepted Answer

Space Teams PRO is the actual software used for real system and mission design and simulation for NASA and space industry applications.  LEVEL 2 is an advanced weekly webcast that teaches students how to use the professional software to truly design any space mission of their imagination.  This is available to high-school juniors or seniors (as well as university students), and consists of a series of workshops, skill building activities, and culminates in an optional design competition.  Workshops delve into space mission topics more deeply and teach UI and programming-based approaches to customizing more complex missions.  These workshops are aligned with professional development skills that enable engineers to design and simulation realistic missions using Space Teams PRO.

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