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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
Updates25
Forum132
Teams2.6K
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
Updates25

Challenge Updates

The 2025 IREC will be held on June 9-14, 2025 in MIDLAND, Texas

Jan. 31, 2025, 7:34 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

Updates and site selection announcement this evening

Jan. 31, 2025, 9:42 a.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

ESRA fully intends to announce the 2025 IREC location this evening.

With that said, please understand that all three sites are still in play with dozens of people at local, state and federal levels working to resolve FAA waiver approvals.  

Thousands of hours of labor, travel and a similar number of email communications have been utilized during this project. Both new potential hosting sites are very passionate about their support for hosting this event and have been absolutely amazing to work with.  

We appreciate your patience and have our fingers crossed that we will have exciting news to announce this evening.

 

 

 

 


25 Teams have not paid their 2025 IREC Application Fees - Deadline was back in December

Jan. 22, 2025, 2:48 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

The following teams have not made their application payment (which was due in December)

If your team is listed, you have until Friday, Feb 7th at 5pm CT to complete payment. If payment is not made , your team will be removed from the competition.


2nd Progress Report form is available for submission. Deadline is Feb 7th, 6pm CT

Jan. 20, 2025, 1:01 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

Deadline to submit 2nd Progress Report. All teams must submit this report. Closing time is 6:00pm CT. There is no GRACE PERIOD. Submit your application at least 3 days early to AVOID TECHNICAL ISSUES.


January Town Hall Information Compilation

Jan. 15, 2025, 7:16 p.m. PST by ESRA Livestream Logan Herrera

Thank you to all who attended and participated in the January Town Hall. The recording, map of potential venues and launch sites, and compilation of written questions can be found below. For maximum clarity, several questions have precipitated DTEG changes. The new DTEG language is in the written question compilation document. It will be propagated to the DTEG and posted on the ESRA site shortly.

 

The map containing potential venues and launch site locations is here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1fs8dIMQfITR_0VUuMPfQYrHeUMBsAAM

The compilation of written questions (and DTEG changes) is here: https://www.soundingrocket.org/uploads/9/0/6/4/9064598/esra_irec_january_2025_town_hall_questions.pdf


Forum132
Teams2.6K
Elonm's team Elonm's team
1 team member
Looking for members
Monash High Powered Rocketry Monash High Powered Rocketry
16 team members
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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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ENP Rocketeers ENP Rocketeers
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Rocking Science Rocking Science
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Propulsión UNAM's team Propulsión UNAM's team
4 team members
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Minerva Rockets UFRJ's team Minerva Rockets UFRJ's team
4 team members
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Interstellar team UDL SBA (ALGERIA) (2025) Interstellar team UDL SBA (ALGERIA) (2025)
14 team members
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Saad Dahleb Blida Rocketry Team Saad Dahleb Blida Rocketry Team
10 team members
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UCL Rocket UCL Rocket
10 team members
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ENIS AEROSPACE ENIS AEROSPACE
2 team members
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University of Washington - SARP University of Washington - SARP
15 team members
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Case Western Reserve University Case Western Reserve University
6 team members
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Duke University 'Duke AERO' Rocketry Club 2025 Duke University 'Duke AERO' Rocketry Club 2025
2 team members
Looking for members
SEDS FIU SEDS FIU
10 team members
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UL Rocketry Team 2025 UL Rocketry Team 2025
8 team members
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ZENITH ZENITH
9 team members
Looking for members
UTM Rocketry Team UTM Rocketry Team
12 team members
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SEDSACC Rocketry Team SEDSACC Rocketry Team
6 team members
Looking for members
PHOENIX ROCKET TEAM PHOENIX ROCKET TEAM
8 team members
Looking for members
IGNITIA IGNITIA
1 team member
Looking for members
FabLab KFUPM FabLab KFUPM
11 team members
Looking for members
AXANTERA INDONESIA AXANTERA INDONESIA
1 team member
Looking for members
AE-13 Mehrab Hossen's team AE-13 Mehrab Hossen's team
1 team member
Looking for members
Cuuhetería Cuuhetería
6 team members
Looking for members
Swamp Launch Rocket Team - University of Florida Swamp Launch Rocket Team - University of Florida
10 team members
Looking for members
SARTEK SARTEK
8 team members
Looking for members
Skybridge ENPC's team Skybridge ENPC's team
7 team members
Looking for members
STES Rocketry team STES Rocketry team
4 team members
Looking for members
Christopher Fernandes's team Christopher Fernandes's team
9 team members
Looking for members
Vultur Rocketry Vultur Rocketry
3 team members
Looking for members
Resources
FAQ