Legal

Terms of Service

Effective: May 26, 2026 · Last updated: May 27, 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a binding agreement between you and The Engineering and Science Academy (“TESA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) that governs your use of tesa4space.org (the “Site”) and your participation in TESA programs (the “Programs”). By submitting an application, completing a payment, attending a Program, or otherwise using the Site, you agree to these Terms.

If you are under 18, you may only use the Site and apply to a Program with the involvement and explicit consent of a parent or legal guardian, as described in Section 2.

1. Acceptance of these Terms

These Terms and our Privacy Policy are incorporated together by reference. If you do not agree, do not use the Site or apply to a Program. We may update these Terms from time to time; see Section 14.

2. Eligibility and parental consent

• TESA student Programs (the Aeronautics Institute and Astronautics Institute) are designed for high-school students, typically ages 14–18.
• Applicants must be at least 13 years old. Our application form blocks submissions from anyone identifying as under 13. If you are under 13, please have a parent or guardian contact us at [email protected] instead.
• Applicants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian co-complete the application by providing the guardian's name, email address, and phone number, and by checking the consent box authorizing the applicant's participation, the collection of the information submitted, and TESA's communications with the guardian.
• Adult educator Programs (including Teachers in Space Suits and the educator Institutes) are open to participants 18 and over.
• By submitting an application you represent that the information you provide is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.

3. Application and admission

Submitting an application does not guarantee admission. TESA reviews each application and notifies applicants by email, typically within a few business days. If admitted, you will receive a personalized link to confirm your session and complete payment. The link expires after 14 days; we may extend or reissue it at our discretion.

We may decline any application at our sole discretion. We may rescind admission at any time before a Program begins if we determine that an applicant has misrepresented information, poses a risk to other participants, or has failed to complete the requirements for participation (including payment, parental consent, or required forms).

4. Payment

• Program tuition is stated on the Program's page and on the Stripe Checkout page at the time of payment. The Aeronautics and Astronautics student Institutes are currently $500 per session; educator programs are priced separately.
• All payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. By completing a payment, you agree to Stripe's terms in addition to ours. TESA does not see or store your full payment-card number; see our Privacy Policy.
• All prices are in U.S. dollars. You are responsible for any applicable taxes.
• Promotion codes, when offered, are single-use, non-transferable, and may be revoked at any time. They may not be combined with other offers unless we state otherwise.

5. Cancellations and refunds

• More than 14 days before the Program start date: we will refund tuition, less a 10% administrative fee.
• Between 14 days and 72 hours before the start: tuition is 50% refundable.
• Less than 72 hours before the start, or after the Program has begun: tuition is non-refundable. We may, at our discretion, transfer your registration to a future session.
• If TESA cancels a Program, we will offer a full refund or a transfer to a later session at your option.
• Refunds for Discovery Flight add-ons are governed by Tidewater Aviation's policies (see Section 6).

To request a refund, email [email protected] from the email address used for your application.

6. Discovery Flight add-on

The optional 1-hour Discovery Flight is an additional service provided by Tidewater Aviation, an independent third party. By selecting this add-on you authorize us to share your name, email, and phone number with Tidewater Aviation for the purpose of scheduling your flight. The Discovery Flight is subject to Tidewater Aviation's separate terms, weather conditions, aircraft availability, and applicable aviation regulations. TESA is not the operator of the flight and disclaims any liability arising from the flight to the maximum extent permitted by law.

7. Code of conduct

All participants — students, guardians, and educators — agree to conduct themselves with civility and academic honesty. The following are prohibited:

• Harassment, bullying, threats, or discrimination on any basis.
• Bringing or using weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs, or controlled substances on TESA premises or during a Program.
• Damaging TESA or partner equipment, including aircraft simulators, wind tunnels, and laboratory tools.
• Recording, photographing, or distributing other participants without explicit consent.
• Attempting to circumvent the Site's security controls, scanning or probing TESA systems, or accessing accounts other than your own.
• Using TESA systems or curriculum content in ways that violate the academic-integrity terms of the Program.

Violations may result in removal from a Program without refund, loss of credit or certification, and, where appropriate, referral to law enforcement. We follow the safeguards described in our internal Information Security and Protection Policy, including two-adult oversight of all student interactions and recorded virtual sessions.

8. Assumption of risk and medical authorization

TESA Programs involve hands-on engineering activities including rocket assembly and launch, model-aircraft construction and flight, wind-tunnel operation, simulator use, analog-spacesuit mobility exercises, and, optionally, light-aircraft flight with Tidewater Aviation. These activities involve inherent risks including, but not limited to, physical injury and property damage.

By participating, you (or, for minors, the parent or guardian on behalf of the minor):

• Acknowledge that you have been informed of these risks and voluntarily accept them.
• Represent that you (or the minor) are physically able to participate, and will disclose any condition that may affect safe participation.
• Authorize TESA to seek emergency medical treatment for the participant if necessary, recognizing that we will make reasonable efforts to contact a parent or emergency contact first.

A separate Program participation agreement may be required at enrollment; if there is a conflict between these Terms and that agreement, the participation agreement controls for purposes of the specific Program.

9. Media release

During Programs we may take photographs, video, or audio recordings of activities. By participating, you grant TESA a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and display these materials for educational, promotional, and marketing purposes, including on the Site and on social media.

If you do not want your or your child's likeness used in marketing materials, you may opt out by emailing [email protected] at or before the start of the Program. Opting out does not prevent incidental capture in group photographs.

10. Intellectual property

• All Site content — text, images, logos, video, course materials, and software — is owned by TESA or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. You may view and print Site content for personal, non-commercial use.
• Curriculum, lesson plans, and proprietary materials shared during a Program are licensed for your individual educational use and may not be redistributed, sold, or used to create a competing program without our written permission.
• Projects you build during a Program (e.g., your RC airplane, rocket) are yours to keep. Designs, code, and reports you create remain your intellectual property; you grant TESA a non-exclusive license to retain copies for assessment, accreditation, and promotional purposes.

11. User-submitted content

When you submit an application essay, contact-form message, or other content, you grant TESA a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to read, store, review, and use that content for the purpose of administering applications and Programs and improving our offerings. You represent that the content is your own work and does not infringe the rights of any third party.

12. Disclaimers

THE SITE AND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTY THAT THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT PARTICIPATION IN A PROGRAM GUARANTEES ADMISSION TO ANY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, EMPLOYER, OR PROGRAM, NOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ANY SPECIFIC CERTIFICATION, CREDIT, OR OUTCOME.

13. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TESA, ITS FOUNDERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SITE OR PROGRAMS, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY UNDER THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (a) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO TESA IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (b) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100). SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES; THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY ONLY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

14. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold TESA and its founders, directors, employees, contractors, and agents harmless from any claim, liability, damage, loss, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of (a) your violation of these Terms, (b) your violation of any applicable law or the rights of a third party, or (c) your participation in a Program, except to the extent caused by TESA's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

15. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date above and, for material changes, post a notice on the Site and notify applicants by email. Continued use of the Site or participation in a Program after the change indicates acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Governing law and dispute resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, excluding its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Site will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Queen Anne's County or the District of Maryland, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

Before filing a claim, you agree to first contact us at [email protected] to attempt good-faith resolution. Either party may seek emergency or injunctive relief in court at any time.

17. Miscellaneous

• Severability: If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
• No waiver: Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of our right to do so later.
• Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our written consent; we may assign them in connection with a sale, merger, or reorganization.
• Entire agreement: These Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any Program-specific participation agreement constitute the entire agreement between you and TESA regarding the Site and Programs.
• Force majeure: We are not liable for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control, including natural disasters, weather, pandemic, and government action.

18. Contact us