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International Rocket Engineering Competition

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International Rocket Engineering Competition 2025

Join us as we host thousands of the world's most ambitious collegiate rocketeers in a one-of-a-kind event.

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Summary
Timeline
Updates39
Forum163
Teams2.7K
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Summary

Overview

International Rocket Engineering Competition 2025

June 9-14, 2025

Over 2,000 students, faculty and mentors will gather for the 18th annual International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC)in June of 2025.  Drawn by the opportunity to collaborate and compete in a world class event, you represent the best and brightest from more than 150 colleges and universities located across the USA and around the world. 

Join us as we host thousands of the world's most ambitious collegiate rocketeers in a one-of-a-kind event. Part academic conference and part design-build-fly style competition, the IREC has something to offer students, faculty, industry representatives, and amateur aerospace aficionados alike.

 

The biggest rockets, the highest altitudes and largest payloads! 
​How will you answer the call?

Whether you are an academic, an industry representative, a retired professional, or simply a passionate amateur supportive of young minds who seek new horizons... there are many ways you may become a part of an event impacting the future of aerospace...

As a Sponsor...

You could interact with over 1,800 university STEM students from top ranked universities and colleges in a professional and competitive setting. Not only can your organization interact with them face to face but you can also learn about how their aerospace hardware performs in real world conditions. Finally, you will help make possible an event which inspires the best possible candidates for your company! 

As a Volunteer...

You will join a highly motivated and talented ESRA team which brings together the thousands of moving pieces to build the world's largest collegiate rocket engineering conference and competition. From directing crowds to directing launches and everything in between, we need you at the IREC! 

As a Judge...

You will join a group of respected experts and professionals who interact with the student teams to evaluate and score the deliverables, including technical design documents, overall team performance and launch success.  This team determines who will receive the coveted Genesis Trophy as the Overall Winner of the IREC.

As a Student... 

You will demonstrate your hard work on an international stage, in front of thousands of your peers, professors, and prospective employers. You will engage in design-build-fly style rocket and payload engineering competitions in a professional setting, at world class facilities, where the sky is not the limit!


Guidelines

Guidelines for the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) are hosted on our website! www.soundingrocket.org/irec-documents--forms.html

You'll want to review the following documents:

  • IREC Rules and Requirements Document
  • IREC Design, Test, and Evaluation Guide
  • Integrated Master Schedule
  • SDL Payload Challenge Rules & Information
  • IREC Range Standard Operating Procedures
  • Pre-Registration Forms and Instructions
  • Explanation Letter for IREC Fees
  • Proper Clothing for the IREC
  • Maps to travel to the Vertical Launch Area

 

 





 

Timeline
Updates39

Challenge Updates

Important Reminder to all teams - DO NOT SHIP ANYTHING TO SPACEPORT MIDLAND

Feb. 28, 2025, 7:55 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

DO NOT SHIP ANYTHING TO SPACEPORT MIDLAND

 

If you ship any items to Spaceport Midland, it will be lost...

 

We are still working on a possible solution for shipping non-energetic items to the event.

Details will be provided when/if we find a solution.


Reminder: Student Feedback Survey

Feb. 26, 2025, 1:31 p.m. PST by ESRA Registration Sierra Stockwell

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to remind you all that the Student Feedback Survey is due Feb 28th at 11:59 pm CST. We appreciate all of the wonderful feedback we have received so far, and would love to hear from every team! Remember that all feedback is 100% anonymous and will only be read by me so you do not need to worry about anyone identifying your team, it will not impact your score/standing in anyway. Also, do not be afraid to give feedback on registration/pre-registration, I want to continue to improve student experience as much as possible, you wont hurt my feelings. :)

Here is the link again in case you missed it:

Student Feedback Survey

Thank you for your time,

Sierra Stockwell

Registration Coordinator

Uprange Operations Manager


Updated version of the DTEG v 1.1.6 uploaded to soundingrocket.org

Feb. 25, 2025, 5:38 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

Updates Include:

  • Amend 6.2.1  Any hardware drifting outside the safe recovery area or onto properties with restricted access will either be abandoned or recovered at the team’s own expense. 
  • Amend 9.2.1  Payloads shall implement recovery systems that comply with all the requirements outlined in Sections 6.1 through 6.19. Mentions of "rocket" shall be understood to be the payload. Section 6.1.3 (twostage boosters) does not apply to payloads. 
  • Amend 9.4.1 (will now be 9.3.1) Payload energetics shall be limited to the payload recovery systems (Section 9.2). All other forms and uses of pyrotechnics and other energetics on payloads are not permitted. 
  • Add 9.1.5  Rockets with deployed payloads shall contain no more than a single (1) independently recoverable body. 
  • Remove 5.3.2 "COTS motors shall be started using the igniter supplied by the manufacturer." 
  • Amend 6.15.1 All energetic device arming features shall be externally actuatable and controllable.Magnetic switches and the Multitronix turnon coil shall be understood to be externally actuatable and controllable. 
  • Delete 9.1.3  Which exempts payloads with parachutes or parafoils from dual-event recovery. 
  • Clarify 4.1.2  To allow the use of COTS flight computers with GPS, even though the flight computer and GPS are not “independently powered”. 
  • Clarify 4.1.1To require the presence of a COTS GPS in any independently recovered part of the rocket. 
  • Clarify 4.4.1  To state that SRAD GPS solutions are approvedas backup to the COTS GPS.

This is the final week to order COTS Solid motors from AEROTECH and WILDMAN

Feb. 25, 2025, 12:09 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

This is the final week to order COTS Solid motors from AEROTECH and WILDMAN.

To receive your motor onsite in Midland, you must purchase your motor from either Wildman Hobbies or directly from Aerotech no later than this Friday!

DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY!


ESRA is looking for help to move our STUFF from New Mexico to Texas

Feb. 24, 2025, 11:41 a.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

ESRA is attempting a major effort this week in moving all of our resources from New Mexico to Texas. 

  • For anyone living in or near Las Cruces or Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Thursday, Feb 27th and Friday, Feb 28th are the two days we need your help moving.
     
  • For anyone living in or near the Midland, Texas area, Saturday March 1st and Sunday, March 2nd we will also need assistance.

We simply NEED BODIES to help us move our equipment to our new launch site. Food and ESRA Swag will be provided for all volunteers!

Please send an email to general.info@esrarocket.org if you can help us!


Forum163
Teams2.7K
Resources
FAQ