Team Formation Guide

To create or join a team, you will first need to:

1. Create a NASA Space Apps account.
2. Register for the 2024 NASA International Space Apps Challenge.
3. Choose a Local Event.

While you may be on a team by yourself, we highly recommend that you work with other participants:

• Teams may have no more than six (6) members.
• Teams of 4-5 members with a variety of skills and ideas are the most successful. NASA Space Apps is all about collaboration, after all!
• Participants from any Local Event may join any team.

For a step-by-step video, check out Navigating the Hackathon: Challenges and Team Formation.

Method 1: From the "Find a Team" Page

1. Go to the NASA Space Apps website.
2. From the main menu, select “Explore the Hackathon” -> “Find a Team.”
3. Click the blue “Create a Team” button.
4. Fill out the required fields to complete the form (see example below). You are now the Team Owner!

Method 2: From the "Challenges" Page

1. Go to the NASA Space Apps website.
2. From the main menu, select “Explore the Hackathon” -> “Challenges.”
3. Find and select a challenge you’re interested in.
4. Navigate to the Teams tab and then click the blue “Create a Team” button on the page.
5. Fill out the required fields to complete the form. You are now the Team Owner!

Method 3: From Your Local Event Page

1. Go to your profile icon and select "My Local Event."
2. Navigate to the "Teams" tab.
3. Click the blue “Create a Team” button.
4. Fill out the required fields to complete the form. You are now the Team Owner!

Team Management: As the Team Owner, you will have the ability to approve/deny team member requests, remove members from your team, or delete the team. Please see the "Managing Your Team & Member Requests" section of this guide for further details.

Local Event Participation & Judging: Your team’s Local Event is automatically assigned to the Local Event of the Team Owner. While you may change your team’s chosen Local Event, the Team Owner must be a confirmed participant at that Local Event in order for your team’s project to be eligible for awards.

Method 1: From the "Find a Team" Page

1. Go to the NASA Space Apps website.
2. From the top menu, select “Explore the Hackathon” -> “Find a Team.”
3. Search for a specific team or browse the list of teams (see example of the filtered teams search below).
4. Look for teams with the yellow “Seeking Members” tag.
5. Click on a team you are interested in to learn more about it.
6. Once you are ready to join, click the “+ Request to Join Team” button.
7. Write a short summary about who you are and why you want to join the team, and then submit your request. Please do not share private information like your age, address, etc.
8. You will then receive an email letting you know if your request was approved or denied.

Method 2: From the "Challenges" Page

1. Go to the NASA Space Apps website.
2. From the top menu, select “Explore the Hackathon” -> “Challenges.”
3. Find and select a challenge you’re interested in.
4. Navigate to the Teams tab.
5. Search for a specific team or browse the list of teams (see image below for filtered search example).
6. Look for teams with the yellow “Seeking Members” tag.
7. Click on a team you are interested in to learn more about it.
8. Once you are ready to join, click the “+ Request to Join Team” button.
9. Write a short summary about who you are and why you want to join the team, and then submit your request. Please do not share private information like your age, address, etc.
10. You will then receive an email letting you know if your request was approved or denied.

Method 3: From Your Local Event Page

1. Go to your profile icon and select "My Local Event."
2. Navigate to the "Teams" tab.
3. Search for a specific team or browse the list of teams.
4. Look for teams with the yellow “Seeking Members” tag.
5. Click on a team you are interested in to learn more about it.
6. Once you are ready to join, click the “+ Request to Join Team” button.
7. Write a short summary about who you are and why you want to join the team, and then submit your request. Please do not share private information like your age, address, etc.
8. You will then receive an email letting you know if your request was approved or denied.

Please see the Managing Your Team & Member Requests section of this guide for further details on how to connect with your team once your request has been approved.

Team Member Requests

Team Owners can approve or deny requests to join their team by navigating to the "Members" tab of their team page. When a participant requests to join a team, an email is sent to the Team Owner. The Team Owner can approve or deny the request from the "Members" tab. The participant will then receive an email letting them know if they have been accepted or denied.

Connecting with Your Team

As a Team Owner, you are required to include information on how members of your team can connect on the "About" tab of the team page, whether that be through Space Apps Connect or including a link to your preferred third-party communications app.

Team Owners will see a “Team Contact Information” field when editing the “About” tab on their team page. Input your team’s contact information here so that other team members can get in contact with you. The information you put here will appear on the “Members” tab of your team page. This information is only viewable for members of your team.

You can also search for teams and chat with potential team members in the Find a Team category of Space Apps Connect once it opens on September 24.

Leaving or Deleting a Team

All changes to your team can be made under the "Members" tab of the team page. Here you can:

• Remove yourself from a team by selecting the “Leave Team” option at the bottom of the page.
• Team Owners may also remove team members if they no longer want them on the team. They may do this by clicking the “Remove” button next to a team member’s name.
• If the Team Owner decides to leave the team, they will be prompted to choose an existing team member to become the new Team Owner.
• The Team Owner can delete the team by clicking the red “Delete Team” at the bottom of the page.

To delete a team entirely, the Team Owner must navigate to the "Members" tab and click on the “Delete Team” button in the section on the right side of the page. Deleting a team will delete all content entered on the Project and Details tabs, so only do this if you are absolutely sure you wish to delete all of the work your team has entered on the site.

As a Team Owner, you are required to include information on how members of your team can connect on the "About" tab of the team page, whether that be through Space Apps Connect or including a link to your preferred third-party communications app.

Team Owners will see a “Team Contact Information” field when editing the “About” tab on their team page. Input your team’s contact information here so that other team members can get in contact with you. The information you put here will appear on the “Members” tab of your team page. This information is only viewable for members of your team.

You can also search for teams and chat with potential team members in the Find a Team category of Space Apps Connect once it opens on September 24.

Changing Your Team Owner

If you wish to change the owner of your team, you may do so on the "About" tab of your team page under the Team Owner section. In the dropdown, select another member of the team, then click “Publish” in order to save the changes. Note: Only the existing Team Owner will be able to assign a new Team Owner. If your Team Owner is unresponsive and has not assigned a new Team Owner, then you will have to create a new team.

You can access your team page by clicking on your "My Space Apps" profile icon on the main menu. Click on “My Team,” then your team name, which will take you directly to your team page. After navigating to your team’s page, you will see three tabs available for editing: