Space Grand Challenge - FAQ
What is the Space Grand Challenge (SGC)?
The Space Grand Challenge (SGC) is a free, virtual, esports competition that develops middle and high school students’ space, cybersecurity and tech skills in a fun and compelling way. This competition provides teams of 3 to 6 students (plus a coach) the opportunity to work together and solve a simulated, gamified cybersecurity breach of a satellite.
Are there any costs to participate?
No, thanks to SGC Sponsors, it is a free event!
Do you need prior experience in technology, coding and/or cybersecurity?
No, there is both a beginner and advanced level. Beginners learn the fundamentals, while more experienced students apply advanced skills.
When is the next SGC event?
The Space Grand Challenge: Cosmic Cybernauts is April 25–26, 2025.
Who can participate?
It is open to middle and high school students (grades 6–12) from around the globe. No prior experience is required and both beginner and advanced levels are offered. Practice events/Sandboxes are open to all players.
What skillsets will students gain from participating?
Students gain experience in Python, Java, JavaScript, C, C++, SQL, Stack, Hash table, Heap, Design Patterns, SPARTA, MITRE, Code injection, Block Cipher, Public Cipher, Caesar, Rot, Base, DoS, Wireless Security: WEP, WPA, WPA 2, GSM, 3G, LTE, Malware, Wireshark, Autopsy & Forensics, STK, AWS, Orbital Mechanics, Ethics & Cybersecurity, Esports & Leadership, NICE Framework, Satellite Communications, Software Defined Radios, Deep Space Networks, and VPN.
What will players do during SGC?
The game features gamification and Esports elements, and participants collect evidence from virtual reality simulated rooms, then analyze the data to solve who was responsible for perpetrating the cybercrime.
How can participants prepare for the competition?
All training materials are linked here. Students and coaches simply need to enroll with an email and password.
How much time is required to prepare?
Based on the training materials, the estimated time to prepare is about 50 hours. If you have less time available, you can focus on the following training course: https://calpolycci.thinkific.com/courses/sgc-2025-cosmic-cybernauts
How do I register?
Coaches can register their student teams here. Note that student and their parent/guardian contact information is required.
By when do I need to register?
Registration will remain open a week before the game begins.
Can I enter as a single-person team?
Competition games require a minimum student team of 3 and a maximum of 6 players. During practice/sandbox events, 1 to 6 players can participate as a team.
Can a coach lead more than one team?
Yes! Each coach needs to use a separate email per registered team.
How do I get more information?
More information is available here and a recently recorded information session is available here. You can also email sgcsupport@calpoly.edu. During practice/sandbox events support is limited.
How can I stay up to date?
Connect on social media via Cal Poly California Cybersecurity Institute’s (CCI) Space Grand Challenge for the competition, and informational posts.
Why should I participate in the Space Grand Challenge?
This unique opportunity is made possible by sponsors and it’s rare for students and educators to be able to participate in a simulation informed by experts at the highest levels of the space, tech and cyberspace industries and have fun while doing it!
If I’m not able to participate this year, can I watch the competition to learn more? You can tune in to watch a live broadcast of the competition for free on the CCI Twitch here.
Is support available during the competition?
Yes, technical support will be available during competitions. Our Tech Support Team will be online during the competition to help answer questions via Discord. Support is limited and there is no Discord support during practice/sandbox events.
What time zone does event take place?
All communicated SGC event times are PST.
What if our team can’t be together in person during gameplay?
Student teams that cannot all meet on location to play together can still interact within their team’s assigned voice and text channels in Discord.
Who can register student teams?
Coaches MUST register their student teams. Each coach needs to use a separate email per registered team.
Who will supervise students during gameplay?
Coaches are responsible for supervising their students/teams during gameplay.
What are the minimum computer requirements?
Please check all minimum computer requirements on the SGC website before the competition begins.
What if I can’t register with my school email address?
If your school does not allow or filters communication from outside email addresses, you can use the students' personal email addresses to register them. They will need to be able to receive email so they can retrieve the OTP (One Time Passcode) that gets sent to access the SGC game website.
Who can I reach out to with questions?
If there are any questions before gameplay begins, please reach out via email at sgcsupport@calpoly.edu.
What if I have a technical issue during gameplay?
If participants run into technical issues during gameplay, they can log a ticket in our Game Support area in Discord to get help.
What are the Rules of Conduct?
To review our Rules of Conduct, which all participants must agree and adhere to during gameplay, please reference the following link (link not provided in source).
Who can access the Prequalification section for the SGC game?
Only the student participants in the team can access this section once they log into the game's website. This needs to be completed before they can proceed to play the main challenge environments on game day.
