in partnership with NASA

Educator Toolkit

Everything you need to spread the word about Stardance Challenge. Show the video, get free posters, and request an Artemis mission patch.

Featured on NASA.gov

Space Out This Summer → Hack Club Stardance Challenge →

Stardance meets with CSTA standards and guidelines.

Teen? Head here instead →

Show the 2‑minute classroom video

Play this quick overview in class so students know what Stardance is and how they can join.

Request your Artemis II mission patch

A sewn Artemis II mission patch, mailed to educators who show the video.

Request patch →

Also available for educators

Free classroom posters Optional posters to help students remember where to sign up. Request posters Printable branding kit Stardance logo and branding assets for print. Download Assets

About Hack Club

Founded in 2014, Hack Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting a global network of over 100,000 teenage makers. We believe the best way to learn is by building, so we provide community, resources, and rewards to help teens create.

About Stardance Challenge

Developed in partnership with NASA, Stardance Challenge runs June 1 – September 30, 2026. Students build any technical project and earn tokens called stardust based on the quality of their work. They can spend their stardust on real-world prizes like 3D printers, Raspberry Pis, and even trips to the Kennedy Space Center. The better they build, the more they earn.

About NASA’s Support

NASA is strengthening its education programs to support high school and college students in building the STEM skills they need to succeed in the workforces of tomorrow. NASA and Hack Club signed a Space Act Agreement in March 2026 to support this Summer 2026 challenge.

FAQ

1. What do educators need to do? ▶
Show the 2-minute Stardance video to your students. After you share it, request your free Artemis II mission patch from this page.
2. How do I get the Artemis II mission patch? ▶
Use the patch request form after you show the classroom video. We’ll mail the sewn Artemis II mission patch as a thank-you for helping students discover Stardance.
3. Does it cost anything? ▶
No, it’s completely free for educators and students.
4. Do I need to run anything? ▶
No, students participate independently. You don’t need to organize or supervise anything — just show the video and spread the word.
5. Is it open to beginners? ▶
Yup! We welcome both beginners and experts — there’s no bar for entry or competition to get the prizes. Plus, we have tutorials and guided projects so anyone can get started making awesome websites, games, hardware, and more!
6. What do students build? ▶
Anything technical — websites, games, apps, electronics, hardware, rockets. Beginners and experienced builders are both welcome.
7. What do they earn? ▶
Students earn tokens called stardust based on the quality of their work. They can spend their stardust on real-life rewards like 3D printers, keyboards, and developer tools from the $2.5M prize pool.
8. How does it actually work? ▶
Once we launch, students will be able to log into the platform to log their projects. They’ll do this by installing our Hackatime extension that keeps track of their time spent coding (or ‘hacking’). Along the way, they’ll post logs of their work to Stardance showing off their project. Once they’re ready, they’ll “ship” their project by publishing it so anyone can see it. From this, they’ll earn tokens called stardust based on the quality of their work, which they can spend in the shop for free prizes like 3D printers, electronics, plushies, and more!