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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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Team Entry Application Form Due

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Summary
Timeline
Updates9
Forum77
Teams2.2K
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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
Updates9

Challenge Updates

The 2025 IREC Application period is NOW CLOSED

Nov. 8, 2024, 5:08 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

196 applications have been received.  Social media updates may take another few days so please be patient.   I will post a complete list of team applications received soon.

 

By far the best year of quality applications.  This is going to be a real struggle for ESRA to get this down to 150 teams.

 

-Andy Berger


Flyer of Record Requirements and Immediate AUDIT

Nov. 7, 2024, 1:02 p.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

Teams, 

We have applications being submitted without a Flyer of Record, stating "They are still looking for one".  For 2025, your team MUST have a valid NAME and TRA ID# of your Flyer of Record on your application or it will be DECLINED.

 

Also, YOU MUST RECEIVE CONFIRMATION from your Flyer of Record before you put their name on your application.

All FoRs will be contacted by ESRA to confirm they are aware of their responsibilities.  If they do not know they are your team's FoR, your application will be DECLINED.  DO NOT ASSUME you still have the same person from last year.

 

All FoRs will also be screened by Tripoli to ensure they are in fact L3 certified and ACTIVE members.

 

Any FoR stating they are "working on their L3 certification" will be DECLINED.


Submission Deadline is RAPIDLY APPROACHING!

Nov. 7, 2024, 10:36 a.m. PST by ESRA Executive Director

This is your FINAL WARNING!    

If you wait until the final hour to submit your team's application and there just happens to be some kind of "technical" problem, error, issue or misunderstanding and you miss the deadline....    That is YOUR FAULT!   

 

Submit your application NOW.  It doesn't have to be perfect but waiting until the last second is unacceptable.  Don't put your team's application AT RISK by procrastinating.  Just submit it TODAY and avoid the worries.

 


The DTEG document for the 2025 IREC has now been updated and uploaded to the documents section of soundingrocket.org

Oct. 22, 2024, 6:57 p.m. PDT by ESRA Executive Director

The DTEG document for the 2025 IREC has now been updated and uploaded to the documents section of soundingrocket.org


2025 IREC Team Applications form now OPEN

Oct. 21, 2024, 7:06 a.m. PDT by ESRA Executive Director

Deadline is Friday, November 8, 2024

Students can now complete their Team application on the HeroX site Each team should have a minimum of 4 people on HeroX receiving critical updates.

This is NOT THE SAME as Team Registration which occurs in March.


Forum77
Teams2.2K
Resources
FAQ