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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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stage:
2nd Interim Progress Report Due

This challenge is closed

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Summary
Timeline
Updates33
Forum152
Teams2.7K
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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
Updates33

Challenge Updates

2024 IREC Feedback Survey

Feb. 16, 2025, 6:59 p.m. PST by ESRA Registration Sierra Stockwell

Hello Rocketeers, 

If you recall, during the past two townhalls we have mentioned our intention to release a feedback survey for last year's competition to students. This survey is 100% anonymous and will only be reviewed by myself, so if you have any specific incidents you would like to inform us about, please do not be afraid to do so, if you had any issues with a specific volunteer or team it will be handled in a delicate way to avoid giving any identifying information to the parties involved. Our goal is always to improve our competition, so we need your feedback to improve each year and address any serious issues. There is also a question to allow you to bring up any concerns you have this year that you would like us to address, whether that's for student minority safety or for information that your team would like to see about the launch site. Please submit one response per team, I encourage you to ask any members who attended competition last year to compile their feedback into one form, by February 28th. Volunteers are also welcome to respond to this survey, especially if you have any incidents that you would like to report anonymously. 

Please let me know if you have any issues accessing the form!

IREC Student Feedback 2024

Thank you for your time,

Sierra Stockwell

Uprange Operations Manager

Registration Coordinator


Deadline for ordering COTS Aerotech motors is March 1st, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025, 12:11 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

FROM AEROTECH HQ:

COTS Aerotech Motor purchasing final cut-off date for the receipt of rocket motor orders for IREC 2025 in Midland, TX is March 1st, 2025.  Orders for rocket motors received after this date are not guaranteed for delivery by the IREC 2025 event and we are not accepting any RUSH orders.  We will be making rocket motor deliveries, at the IREC 2025 event, if necessary.

This applies to those purchasing directly with Aerotech or those purchasing through Aerotech Dealers.  


The following teams have failed to turn in their 2nd Progress Reports by the deadline

Feb. 8, 2025, 5:48 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

The following teams failed to submit their 2nd progress report by the Friday deadline:
Please send an email to to request a late submission.  Points will be deducted for all late submissions.  Failure to submit your 2nd Progress Report will lead to your removal from the competition.


121 Gebze Technical University
 

 


Reminder #2 - ESRA Townhall is tonight at 7pm CT

Feb. 6, 2025, 6:05 a.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

Don't forget! February Town Hall is tonight 7pm CT. 

ESRA will be sharing more details about the Midland, TX site, DTEG Changes, and take Q&A

 

When: Feb 6, 2025 07:00-8:00 PM Central Time (UTC-6)

Topic: IREC 2025 February Town Hall

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88093611802...


REMINDER #1- Deadline for the 2nd Progress Report submission is TOMORROW!!!

Feb. 6, 2025, 6:03 a.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST SECOND.

 

The deadline is Friday, Feb 7 at 6pm CST


Forum152
Teams2.7K
Resources
FAQ