StellarXplorers IX Qualification Round 1 (QR1) Competition Instructions

Note: There are new procedures for accessing and submitting competition files, and completing the academic quiz. Please review these steps prior to the competition round. Questions regarding the process should be sent to competition@stellarxplorers.org.

STEP 1: Log in to the STLX Portal with your newly assigned team account credentials

​​Every team director has been sent login credentials for their  team. Team Directors with more than one team will be given an individual account for each team. NOTE: This account is different from your personal/team director account that you used to register. The "team account" will be how you submit your solutions to be graded for each round. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VIEW THE COMPETITINO ROUND IF YOU LOG IN USING A PERSONAL ACCOUNT. 
  • Go to the STLX Portal and log in with your assigned team account. Organizations will multiple teams must have each team log into the Portal and access the scenario materials so that an official start time can be established for every team. Failure to do so will result in a team penalty.​
  • Once logged in, you will see the screen pictured below. Click Enter Here​ to access the rounds.

STEP 2: Access Qualification Round 1 on the STLX Portal

  • After you've entered the "course," you'll see a box for each competition round. They will appear as restricted until the date/time that each round is set to begin. Qualification Round 1 will become available on October 27 at 12:01 AM ET and will expire on October 30 at 11:59 PM ET.  When your team is ready to compete, click ​Qualification Round 1.​

STEP 3: Download the QR1 Scenario Files

  • On the Qualification Round 1 page, you can find the Academic Quiz (and study guide) and the QR1 Scenario. All the necessary files (scenario booklet and VDF file) will be found in the QR1 Scenario section. ​​
  • Click the QR1 Scenario link. Click Attempt Quiz Now to gain access to the PDF Competition Scenario Booklet (PDF) and the STK VDF file. Note: clicking Attempt Quiz Now will start your team's 6-hour time limit.
  • Click the file links to begin the downloads.

STEP 4: Download the QR1 Scenario Files

  • Click Next Page to access the solution file upload page.
  • Once a team is finished working on the scenario, they may upload their VDF file for submission. Either drag and drop the files in to the designated area on the portal, or click the "down" arrow to select the files. Remember, teams should be logged in to the "team account" that was issued specifically for them, and they must submit their answers before the 6-hour time limit expires. Additionally, remember to use the correct file naming convention to avoid any penalties.
  • In the File Picker window, select Choose File to find the solution file on the computer.
  • Click Upload this file to complete the upload process. Then click Finish Attempt
  • A team may submit up to three attempts. Note: the last attempt submitted is the one that will be graded. Click Return to attempt if you need to submit a different file, or click Submit all and finish if you are ready to submit your final solution.
  • Click Submit all and finish on the confirmation pop-up to officially submit your solution.
Teams that do not send us a solution via their Portal will receive a score of ZERO for their scenario. It is fully the team’s responsibility to verify that the correct, completed files are uploaded to the Competition Staff. For QR1, this includes the VDF.

​Submissions received after the closing of the team’s six-hour period will be subject to the StellarXplorers time penalty rules (1% scenario score reduction for every minute after a five-minute grace period).

STEP 5: Complete the Academic Quiz

Note: The is a "team quiz" and teams may elect to take the quiz anytime during the full competition window (Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 12:01 AM ET to Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 11:30 PM ET). It does not have to be taken during the team's six-hour competition period for completing the scenario problem. For best results, we recommend reviewing the provided quiz study guide, and using the Understanding Space text book as a resource during the quiz (open-book).
  • From the main Qualification Round 1 page, click the QR1 Scenario link. Click Attempt Quiz Now. A pop-up with a time-limit warning will appear.
  • Click Start Attempt to begin. Teams are only allowed 1 attempt for the quiz.
  • Once are the questions have been answered, click Finish Attempt... to being the quiz submission process
  • You will see a summary of the questions and answers (saved), with options to Return to attempt or Submit all and finish.