Our team has qualified for the Hack-a-Sat finals three years in a row. I wasn't a part of the first year but was a part of last year and this year. Last year's finals didn't go super well for us, but we're hoping to do better this year.
Is this still part of defcon? Or is it just it's own thing now
I think it's its own thing now. Last year the organizers were at DEF CON and showed off the satellite for the finals and had a few talks, but the actual competition was in December. I assume the same thing will happen at this year's DEF CON.