Responses to all submitted frequently asked questions will be posted here and updated regularly.
Last updated: 6/4/2021
Rules & Eligibility
When and where do I sign up for the HAS contest?
Registration for the Qualifying Event will open to the public on May 4th via hackasat.com.
Will there be limits on the number of teams or size of teams for the Qualifying Event and/or Final Event?
There are no limits to the number of teams or the numbers of participants/team for the Qualifying Event or Final Event.
Can active duty service members compete?
Yes, please pay close attention to section 5.1 (Eligibility) of the Rules.
I’m not a U.S. citizen, can I still participate?
Yes! You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to participate, however if you want to collect prizes, you must satisfy the eligibility requirements of the Rules (Section 5.1).
Can a large business entity have more than one team?
Teams consisting of players who were/are members of the same organization prior to Hack-A-Sat may be permitted to compete as long as the teams do not collaborate and do not share organizational sponsorship. Organizations which form to compete in Hack-A-Sat may only field one team.
Are government contractors eligible to compete?
Yes, as long as they meet the Rules Section 5.1 Eligibility Requirements and are not a person or entity that receive funds for supporting or advising the Hack-A-Sat competition.
Do the restrictions on US Federal Government employee participation apply to the employees of foreign governments who wish to participate in HAS?
Government employees (from the U.S. or any other country) acting within the scope of their employment are not eligible to participate as entrants, entrant officials, team leaders or team members.
(new) I want to participate but don’t have a team. Is there a way I can find a team to join?
Yes! Go ahead and register yourself for HAS2 Quals and you’ll be granted access to our quals-2021 channel in Slack. You can offer your services there to see if there’s any teams looking to add members with your skill set. Once you find a team to join, the team leader can then add you to their team with the quals registration portal.
Technical
Will the online qualifications round have challenges from all standard categories (crypto, pwn, rev, web, etc.) or will there be a specific focus instead?
The Qualifying Event will consist of challenges related to cybersecurity with a specific emphasis on space systems. These might include spacecraft systems and ground station systems.
During the Qualification Event, is there any limit on the number of flag submissions, or point penalties for submissions of incorrect flags?
There are no point penalties for submitting flags multiple times for the same challenge.
What kind of hardware is required to compete in Hack-A-Sat?
For the HAS Qualifying Event, any internet connected computer with a modern web browser will suffice. For the HAS Final Event, contestants will need a computer to connect to the game infrastructure through a VPN. It is recommended that a broadband internet connection is used for the connection to the VPN.
(new) Will the HAS2 Final Event use virtual or real satellites?
Like last year’s Finals, the event will be hosted on physical hardware that is representative of architectures and designs used for real satellites.
(new) I don’t have a cybersecurity background, but have run code on satellites. Is this competition for me?
To be most effective, HAS2 is best played as a team with diverse skills from both the traditional cyber and space domains.
(new) Can you summarize the HAS2 qualification event challenge categories?
Just like in HAS1, successful teams will need to have a diverse set of skills from both the cyber and space domains in HAS2. This prize competition is meant to create a two-way bridge between traditional cyber security professionals who are accustomed to categories like web, forensics, crypto, binaries, protocols, etc, and satellite designers and operators who think in terms of TLEs, quaternions, and two body problems. With the HAS2 Final Event being an attack/defend-style CTF, expect to find more reverse engineering and exploitation challenges in this years Quals. Here are the official HAS2 Qualifying Event categories, so you can ensure you’ve got the right mix of skills on your team.
Deck 36, Main Engineering: Brush off your slide rules to solve a myriad of space themed engineering problems
Guardians of the…: Use your satellite operations and engineering skills to manage space assets
Rapid Unplanned Disassembly: Time to pull out those reverse engineering tools
We’re on the Same Wavelength: RF Communications and related topics
Presents from Marco: Marco is ruthless and there is no telling what he might throw your way…
Event Logistics
Where can I watch the Qualification Event?
The Qualifying Event live scoreboard will be available https://quals.2021.hackasat.com/ once the event begins. In addition, follow us on Twitter @hack_a_sat throughout the weekend.
Media
Is there Hack-A-Sat promotional material that I can share on social media platforms?
The Hack-A-Sat team would be thrilled to have you share any content posted from our public Twitter handle (@Hack_A_Sat) or our official website hackasat.com.