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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
Updates18
Forum108
Teams2.5K
Resources
FAQ
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
Updates18

Challenge Updates

URGENT - Need your assistance ASAP - Deadline is Monday, 12/23 at 11:59pm EASTERN

Dec. 22, 2024, 1:52 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

ESRA was alerted to a very critical change to US Federal ITAR rules that would directly affect future competitions. Specifically, prohibiting the ability of any international students to purchase, transport or even interact with amateur high power rocket systems weighing more than 5lbs in the US.

ESRA as well as many other corporations, groups and individuals have already commented on these proposed changes.  We are asking for our student participants, university officials and others to get involved and let your voices be heard!  You do not have to be a US Citizen to add your comment.

Instructions to comment:

  1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOS-2024-0035-0002
  2. Click the "Comment" button in the upper left
  3. Place the comment text (below) in the comment box. Individuals are encourage to customize and expand for their specific circumstances
  4. Complete the remaining identity fields and reCAPTCHA
  5. Press Submit Comment button
    Done!

The absolute submission deadline is 11:59 PM Eastern Time (Washington DC time), tomorrow 23 December 2024. 

 

Please consider posting the following into the Comment section of the form:

As a student participant in the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), I urge the Department of State to revise parts of the proposed rule to better support U.S. universities and international educational collaboration while maintaining appropriate controls. IREC is a global competition fostering the next generation of aerospace leaders through hands-on experience in designing and launching amateur rockets. The proposed rule, as written, would impose significant new burdens that could limit U.S. educational opportunities and international participation, without advancing U.S. critical military advantages. Specifically, I request the following changes: 

To the definition of Amateur Rocket: 

  1. Materials: Explicitly permit commonly used, non-sensitive materials like carbon fiber and composite materials to align with modern technology. 
  2. Active Controls: Replace with the term "Targeting Functions" to differentiate from academic controls terminology. Clarify that simple altitude control mechanisms, such as airbrakes, are not targeting functions and should remain uncontrolled. 
  3. Propellant Mass Limit: Delete the 5 pound propellant mass limit. This is duplicative, yet significantly more restrictive, than the 40,960 Ns total impulse limit already included. This clause significantly increases the USML's scope of control compared to today's regulations. 

To the definition of Amateur Rocket Motor: 

  1. Propellant Mass: Replace the proposed 5-pound propellant mass with a total impulse limit of 40,960 Ns, which is already a widely recognized performance standard. If a propellant mass limit must be retained, increase it to 50 pounds to align with existing commercial products of similar impulse. 
  2. NFPA Certification: Delete reference to NFPA Certification. This consumer safety standard has no bearing on export control, and invoking it controls all university research rocket motors, no matter how small. 

Without these revisions, the proposed rule risks stifling innovation, burdening educational institutions, and discouraging student participation in programs that inspire future aerospace leaders. By making these changes, the Department can ensure that the proposed rule supports safe, educational rocketry while maintaining U.S. critical military advantages. Thank you for considering this feedback.


Confusion about Category changes

Dec. 18, 2024, 10:16 a.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

Teams must compete in the CATEGORY they selected in their application.  The team was reviewed and approved to compete in this category.  Teams CANNOT upgrade their category to a higher altitude or from COTS to SRAD. 

There are exceptions to downward change category.  For example:

  • A team suffers a catastrophic test flight failure and cannot continue without dropping down to 10k COTS
  • A team who us unable to compete due to development issues/delays can request a drop to 10k COTS.

ANY category change must be formally requested to  


Correction to 1st Progress Report and Reminders to teams about various Rules

Dec. 8, 2024, 11:46 a.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

Launch Rail Length - The 1st progress report showed 5.6m for the launch rails.  The CORRECT value is 5.18m (17 feet).  Please note in your simulations.

Also, outside of Hybrid, Liquid, Demonstration and multistage flights, TEAMS must design their rocket to utilize the ESRA launch pads.  (1515 5.18m).  

 

CHANGING CATEGORY - 

Teams CANNOT change categories. There are only two exceptions:

  • 30k team experiences a late test catastrophic failure with significant damage to the rocket.  The team, with ESRA review and approval, may drop down to the 10k COTS category.
     
  • Hybrid or Liquid Team experiences development or test delays/ failure.  The team, with ESRA review and approval, may drop down to the 10k COTS category.

1st Progress Report Submission is CLOSED

Dec. 6, 2024, 5:51 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

The following teams failed to submit their 1st progress report - 

 

To complete the report, they must email to request a Late Entry Submission and to accept the penalty points for the late submission.
 

116 Edmonds College
118 EskiÅŸehir Osmangazi Ãœniversitesi
154 Texas A&M University
161 Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
169 University of California, Merced
179 University of Nevada, Las Vegas
183 University of Utah
211 New Mexico State University
306 Kent State University
408 University of Texas at San Antonio
500 FIRAT UNIVERSITY


Two Important reminders for all teams - Travel Reservations and 1st Progress Report is due

Dec. 4, 2024, 2:34 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

#1 - Student teams SHOULD NOT MAKE TRAVEL RESERVATIONS YET! ESRA is working to finalize a new event and launch site and should be announcing the location in mid to late December.

 

#2 - The DEADLINE for the 1st Interim Progress Report is Friday, Dec 6, 2024.  Get your team's report submitted ASAP.  Do not wait until the last minute to avoid any possible technical issues making your submission LATE.


Forum108
Teams2.5K
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Sandip Mohanty's team Sandip Mohanty's team
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Zanetti's team Zanetti's team
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RMIT High Velocity RMIT High Velocity
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Bbb Fgg's team Bbb Fgg's team
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Katy Rocketry Club Katy Rocketry Club
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ITU SUNGUR ROCKET TEAM ITU SUNGUR ROCKET TEAM
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Propulsión UNAM's team Propulsión UNAM's team
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Minerva Rockets UFRJ's team Minerva Rockets UFRJ's team
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Interstellar team UDL SBA (ALGERIA) (2025) Interstellar team UDL SBA (ALGERIA) (2025)
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Saad Dahleb Blida Rocketry Team Saad Dahleb Blida Rocketry Team
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UCL Rocket UCL Rocket
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ENIS AEROSPACE ENIS AEROSPACE
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University of Washington - SARP University of Washington - SARP
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Case Western Reserve University Case Western Reserve University
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Duke University 'Duke AERO' Rocketry Club 2025 Duke University 'Duke AERO' Rocketry Club 2025
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SEDS FIU SEDS FIU
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UL Rocketry Team 2025 UL Rocketry Team 2025
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ZENITH ZENITH
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UTM Rocketry Team UTM Rocketry Team
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SEDSACC Rocketry Team SEDSACC Rocketry Team
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PHOENIX ROCKET TEAM PHOENIX ROCKET TEAM
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IGNITIA IGNITIA
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FabLab KFUPM FabLab KFUPM
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AXANTERA INDONESIA AXANTERA INDONESIA
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AE-13 Mehrab Hossen's team AE-13 Mehrab Hossen's team
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Cuuhetería Cuuhetería
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Swamp Launch Rocket Team - University of Florida Swamp Launch Rocket Team - University of Florida
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SARTEK SARTEK
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Skybridge ENPC's team Skybridge ENPC's team
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STES Rocketry team STES Rocketry team
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Christopher Fernandes's team Christopher Fernandes's team
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Vultur Rocketry Vultur Rocketry
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Resources
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