AFA’s StellarXplorers breaks registration record for 2024-2025 season

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Air & Space Forces Association’s StellarXplorers program announced that 375 teams have registered for the 11th season of its National Space Design Competition, a record-breaking number of teams and a 25 percent increase compared to the 2023-2024 competition year.

This year’s teams represent 34 states across the country, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Department of Defense schools in Germany and Spain, and Canada. A map of the registered teams can be viewed here. The first qualifying round of the season will take place from October 31st to November 3rd.

In a series of online rounds, teams are tasked with solving real-world orbit planning, satellite design and launch operations missions. The top ten teams from the online rounds will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Denver, Colorado for the National Finals Competition, April 23-25, 2025. There, students have the opportunity to compete for national awards and scholarships, as well as network with industry experts.

“We are thrilled with the number of teams participating in the StellarXplorers competition this year,” said Rebecca Dalton, Director of StellarXplorers. “This remarkable turnout reflects the growing interest in space exploration and STEM education, and we can’t wait to witness the creativity and innovation that these young minds will bring to this challenge.”

StellarXplorers is generously supported by Air and Space STEM Outreach, L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, United Launch Alliance, the Bahethi Family Foundation and SSAI, BlueHalo, BAE Systems and the General Atomics Sciences Education Foundation. Educational support is provided by Ansys and Nova Space, Inc.

About StellarXplorers

The StellarXplorers Space STEM program, created by the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), inspires K-12 students to pursue careers in aerospace, aviation and other science, technology, engineering and Mathematics disciplines (STEM) that are critical to the future of our country. The StellarXplorers National Space Design Competition provides specific training in the use of systems simulation software, the Systems Tool Kit (STK), as well as an online textbook to supplement the curriculum and learning resource for online “team” quizzes conducted during the competition. For more information, visit www.stellarxplorers.org

About AFA

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 association committed to investing and supporting the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, as well as supporting Airmen, Guardsmen and their families. Founded in 1946, AFA is the largest single company of its kind focused on aerospace energy. With more than 120,000 members and 200 chapters around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. aerospace forces as the foundation of a strong national defense. to honor and support Airmen, guardians and their families; and to remember and respect the enduring legacy of the Air and Space Force.